GREAT LAKES AIRLINES CARGO SHIPPING INSRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION SHIPPING ANIMALS Traveling with a Household Pet If you are traveling with a household pet, please contact the Great Lakes Airlines passenger reservations center at 800-554-5111 for instructions and information. General Information Great Lakes Airlines Cargo welcomes many types of animals for transport and we care about the welfare of all animals that are entrusted to us. Our employees are trained to provide safe and professional handling at all times. All animals must meet applicable government regulations and comply with the U.S. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Wild Fauna and Flora. Specific guidelines for the acceptance, care, handling and container requirements are published in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations Manual. Unless there is a more restrictive policy, Great Lakes Airlines adheres to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) guidelines in order to provide your animal with a safe and comfortable travel experience. Please see the Acceptance Exceptions section for important information that may affect the transport of your animal. The information contained on this website is for general reference and guidance only. Go to the USDA's APHIS website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ for detailed instructions and information. Aircraft Travel Compartment Information Animals are transported in the same compartments as baggage and other cargo. These compartments are located behind the last row of passenger seats with a partition. Acceptance Exceptions Aggressive Behavior or Unfit for Travel Great Lakes Airlines maintains the right to refuse acceptance of any animal that is exhibiting aggressive behavior or does not appear fit to travel. Great Lakes Airlines will accept American Pit Bull Terrier puppies which are between 8 weeks and 6 months of age provided they do not weigh more than 20 lbs. All American Pit Bull Terriers more than 6 months old or weighing more than 20 lbs will be refused. This embargo does not apply to American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers or Miniature Bull Terriers. Crossbreeds with American Pit Bull Terriers are also excluded from this embargo. This embargo is due to the aggressiveness of the breed and the danger presented to our aircraft and our customers.
Sedation Great Lakes Airlines will not accept dogs or cats that have been sedated or given any sort of tranquilizers unless it is noted on the Health Certificate by a registered Veterinarian. Venomous Snakes/Lizards/Mice/Guinea Pigs Venomous snakes and lizards will not be accepted for transportation. Non-venomous snakes, mice, guinea pigs and iguanas will be accepted provided they cannot chew threw their container. Drop-Off Times and Locations Locations and hours of operation vary by city. In all cases, the animal shipment must be dropped off during operating hours. Please check your departing facility for specific hours of operation. Pre-Booking (Making a Reservation) We suggest you use our Animal Shipping Request form as a guideline to prepare your booking information. While bookings will be made no more than seven days in advance of shipping, you may begin the process at any time. If you do plan on shipping within 60 hours, please call us at 307-432-7023. A $20.00 rush fee may apply. Weather restrictions apply. To determine the weather forecast in each city along the animal's route, see Temperature Requirements and Restrictions. Advance bookings of animals require the following information: Origin and destination cities Preferred shipping date and times Type of animal size (i.e. 100, 200, etc...) or dimensions Complete shipper and consignee (receiver) information (name, street address and phone number) Combined weight of animal and kennel Breed and age of animal Use may use our Animal Shipping Request form or send an email to www.cargo@flygreatlakes.com Document Requirements Document requirements vary by animal species. Dog and Cats: The original and one copy of a health certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian stating the animal is healthy enough to travel by air, free of injury or disease. The certificate must be dated within 10 days or less from the date your animal will be shipped. If your veterinarian decides that tranquilizers are medically necessary, the health certificate must indicate the name of the drug, the dosage and how the drug was administered. A rabies vaccination certificate issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian and no older than one year from the date your animal will be shipped is required. Rabies vaccinations ARE NOT required for dogs or cats less than 12 weeks of age. However, no shots are to be given less than 3 days prior to shipping. OR A combination health and rabies certificate, with details as mentioned above.
Feeding and watering instructions must be attached to the kennel or container along with an adequate amount of food. (Normally we suggest putting a small amount of food in a Ziploc baggie and attaching it to the top of the kennel.) Must be a food and water dish attached to the inside of the kennel. No food in the food dish, frozen water in the water dish. Or it can be a combination dish with a divider. The animal must be fed and watered within 4 hours of flight departure time. Birds: For exotic/wild bird shipments the shipper must provide, in writing and on letterhead, that the bird was born in captivity on a special farm or the bird is being shipped to or from a zoological garden, sanctuary, preserve, rehabilitation center, medical agency or government wildlife agency. Other Animals: Check with Great Lakes Airlines for regulations on shipping all other types of animals. Temperature Requirements and Restrictions Warm-Blooded Animals and Birds For the health and safety of your animal, Great Lakes Airlines follows the USDA guidelines for shipping animals during periods of extreme temperatures unless your veterinarian states otherwise on the health certificate. The optimum temperature range for transporting most warmblooded animals, including birds, is between 35 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit at the origin, destination and connecting cities. Warm-blooded animals will not be accepted for transport if the actual or forecasted temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit at any city on the routing, unless stated otherwise by your veterinarian on the health certificate. Snub-Nosed/Brach cephalic Cats and Dogs Snub-nosed animal shipments will be accepted for any shipping method if the temperature is between 35 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit anywhere in the routing, unless stated otherwise by your veterinarian on the health certificate. Some examples of snub-nosed breeds of dogs or cats are: Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bulldog, King Charles Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Pug, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Himalayan cat or Persian cat. Shipping Animals in Temperatures Below 35 Degrees Fahrenheit If the temperature is, or is forecasted to be less than 35 degrees at any city on the animal's routing, a Certificate of Acclimation is required in order for your animal to travel. This certificate must be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian and dated within 10 days of the shipping date. It must include the shipper's name and address, type of animal and to what temperature below 35 degrees the animal can withstand (but not lower than 20 degrees). Your animal may be accepted as long as the forecasted temperature is not below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or the temperature noted on the certificate, whichever is more restrictive. Cold-blooded Animals Cold-blooded animals must be packaged in accordance with the IATA Live Animal Regulations and must include heat or cold packs, as needed. Quarantine and Other Destination Restrictions Hawaii Cats and dogs may be quarantined up to 120 days. Arrangements and payments for the duration of the quarantine are made by the shipper with the Honolulu Quarantine Office and must be made prior to shipping. Paperwork accompanying the shipment must include a local Hawaiian contact as the consignee, including name, street address and phone number. The quarantine station
cannot be listed as the consignee. With proper importation permits, exceptions will be made for zoos and research facilities. For details on all requirements, check with the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture at www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa_importing.htm or use the contact information listed below: Hawaii Department of Agriculture Office of the Chairperson 1428 S. King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 808-483-7100 hdoa.info@hawaii.gov www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa Guidelines Information: You and Great Lakes Airlines are responsible for following all USDA and IATA regulations regarding the size and type of kennels utilized. You must provide an Airline approved kennel. Type/size of The kennel must be sturdy, properly ventilated, and most importantly, must be large enough for the animal to freely sit and stand with its head erect, turn around, and lie down in a normal posture. To prevent accidental injury, no part of the animal's body can protrude through any openings in the kennel. For this reason, kennels made exclusively from wire are not accepted. Cannot be collapsible or foldable. Some airlines Great Lakes transfer to do not accept the snap closures. No kennels will be accepted that have an opening on the roof. Please check before shipping out. Super Size s Great Lakes Airlines will not transport dogs in any crate/kennel larger than a 400 series whose dimensions are 36 in x 24 in x 26 in. The 500 series kennels can be accommodated on specific aircraft and must be coordinated through Cargo Services at 800-554-5112. Closing Mechanism Check the closing mechanism to ensure it works properly. Do not put a lock on the kennel door. In accordance with federal regulations, your pet must be accessible in the event of an emergency. Wheels Great Lakes Airlines will not accept any kennels with wheels on the bottom. If your kennel has wheels, they must be removed to prevent them from rolling in transit. Animals per Each kennel should contain no more than 1 adult dog or cat, or no more than 2 puppies or kittens younger than 6 months, of comparable size, and under 20 lbs. Dogs and cats cannot travel together in the same container. Include two food dishes or one divided dish Include two secured food dishes (one for food and one for water), accessible from the outside of the kennel. Do not put food in the food dish, instead put some food in a bag and attach to the top of the kennel. Put frozen water in the water dish.
Absorbent Material The kennel must contain absorbent material or litter. (Black and white printed newspaper is a good choice. However, newspaper with colored ink or advertisements can be toxic to animals.) To measure an animal to insure a proper sized container: CONTAINER LENGTH - Total of length and height Length = from nose to root of tail Height = from ground to elbow joint (front Leg) CONTAINER WIDTH - measure across widest part of body and multiply by 2 CONTAINER HEIGHT - measure height of dog standing (from highest point of head or ears to the ground) Types s can be purchased from most pet stores. Great Lakes Airlines does not rent or sell kennels. Maximum Maximum Actual Dimensional Animal Animal Type Size Weight Height (Inches) Weight Weight (Pounds) (Inches) (Pounds) 18 13 100 21L X 16W X 15H 7 26 25 17 200 27L X 20W X 19H 13 53 48 21 300 32L X 22W X 23H 19 84 70 24 400 36L X 24W X 26H 24 116 121 28 500 40L X 27W X 30H 32 168 The 500 type kennel is not accepted on most of Great Lakes Airlines planes due to narrow body aircraft and space availability. type 100 accommodates an animal that is up to 18 in. long, 7 in. wide and 13 in. tall type 200 accommodates an animal that is up to 21 in. long, 9 in. wide and 17 in. tall type 300 accommodates an animal that is up to 27 in. long, 11 in. wide and 21 in. tall type 400 accommodates an animal that is up to 29 in. long, 12 in. wide and 24 in. tall type 500 accommodates an animal that is up to 32 in. long, 13 in. wide and 28 in. tall
HELPFUL HINTS Recommendations for Puppies Great Lakes Airlines recommends that customers shipping small or toy breeds that are less than 12 weeks in age and less than 3 lbs in weight, should follow these precautionary steps to ensure their safe transportation. Do not vaccinate these puppies within 3 days of transport Do not worm these puppies within 3 days of transport Ensure that no medical procedures are performed on the puppy within 3 days of transport Use honey or white Karo syrup for carbohydrate loading for the 24 hour period just prior to shipping (to help encourage glucose levels in the puppy while in transit). Great Lakes Airlines recommends these steps because a puppy less than 3 lbs and 16 weeks of age cannot store glycogen in its liver which means it may not be able to regulate its own sugar/glucose levels. Lowered glucose levels in these pups could result in hypoglycemic episodes including seizures, reduction of body temperature (hypothermia) and could severely compromise the health of your pet. Great Lakes Airlines is committed to the safe and humane transport of all animals, and we believe that following the above steps will help ensure that your pet has a positive experience. For questions concerning the transportation of your pet, please contact Cargo Services at 800-554- 5112 or 307-432-7023 or via e-mail at cargo@greatlakesav.com. Helpful Travel Tips The following tips may assist with your pet's journey: Take along a leash and collar for walking your pet prior to departure and upon arrival. Include identification tags with your home address and phone number as well as the address and phone number of its destination. Check Temperatures: Remember to check prior to departing for the airport to verify that temperatures are within acceptable ranges and arrive at the airport early. Checkin will be at the Great Lakes Airlines ticket counter. Keep your animal as calm a possible prior to the flight. A walk immediately prior to departure is a good idea. For cats, disposable litter boxes are available at pet supply shops and are easy to take along. Revised 17JUL09