Military Introduces Pet Travel Reimbursement

Military moves can be stressful, especially with pets, but the U.S. military’s policies on pet reimbursements for active service members can help ease the financial burden.

Service members relocating to a new base may be eligible to get partial reimbursements for pet relocation expenses under current U.S. military guidelines. 

Our guide breaks down the details so you have a clear understanding of the costs covered as you plan for a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) for you and your pet.

Who It Applies To

The Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) state military reimbursements apply to active-duty service members on PCS orders that started after Jan. 1, 2024. That means orders received before then may still be eligible if service starts after that date. The move can be within the continental United States or abroad. 

Quick note: The military shorthand for the continental U.S. is CONUS. It’s OCONUS for travel outside of the continental U.S. 

Reimbursements cover one pet per active duty member across all branches of the military: The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. In the case of military families with active-duty spouses, both individuals may apply for reimbursements for up to 2 pets. 

Service members and civilians working at a foreign Permanent Duty Station (PDS) that is evacuated on official orders from the U.S. military may also be eligible for reimbursements. 

The JTR document states that service members are authorized transportation fees for up to 2 household pets to cover pet travel expenses to and from a safe haven during an evacuation. 

Eligible Pets

Household pets covered under this order are defined as cats and dogs only. Pets traveling on commercial airlines are subject to additional restrictions set by those carriers. 

Some airlines ban certain breeds from travel for health or safety reasons. Others may require specialized crates for strong-jawed dog breeds or limit travel to certain temperature windows. It’s up to the passenger to navigate these restrictions before deciding on possible routes for relocating their pet. A professional pet shipper can help.

Cost Coverage Breakdown 

Reimbursable costs for expenses to get your dog or cat to your new base depend on your PCS orders. Service members should use government-run or contracted modes of transport for transoceanic travel, like the Patriot Express, whenever possible. 

You can use the Air Mobility Command Travel Site to find your nearest AMC Passenger Terminal and inquire about available space on military cargo flights. It’s important to note that space is limited on these flights, and planning for them far in advance can be difficult.

If government transportation is not possible, service members must complete a non-availability letter to pursue reimbursement for pet shipping fees on commercial flights after the fact. This includes cases where a pet and their crate exceed weight limits, or spaces are booked up on military-run flights.

Non-availability letters authorize service members to book their commercial travel. They’re provided to service members from the office handling their transportation requests. For the Navy, for example, this is the Navy Passenger Transportation Office (NAVPTO).

Now, let’s break down available reimbursements:

• For moves within the continental U.S., service members may be reimbursed up to $550.
• For moves outside of the continental U.S., service members may be reimbursed up to $2,000.
• For OCONUS moves to a high-risk country for rabies where either military-contracted or commercial services aren’t available, service members may be reimbursed up to $4,000. 

Requests for reimbursements up to $4,000 are part of a recent amendment to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. They apply only to PCS orders that start after Nov. 25, 2024, and require Secretarial Process approval. 

Steps on navigating this new policy may vary by branch. For a list of countries eligible for that reimbursement for PCS pet moves, view the JTR Supplement.

Covered costs include mandatory microchipping, vaccinations, rabies titers, quarantine fees, boarding fees, and pet licenses or health certificates required by a destination. You can also request reimbursement for hotel service charges during that pet’s transport.

Reimbursements can cover ground transportation and/or air travel, and pets do not have to travel with their owner if a service member flies separately. If you or your pet are taking an indirect route to your final destination, you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket for any additional, voluntary stops.

How to Apply

Military service members must complete DD Form 1351-2 (Travel Voucher or Subvoucher) for reimbursements related to their pet’s relocation after they arrive at their new duty station. 

Your traveling cat or dog doesn’t fly free at the time of travel. You’ll need to wait for approval to be reimbursed. Pets can travel at any time after the effective date on a service member’s PCS orders.

From there, specific application processes can vary by branch, but here are a few tips that cover most PCS moves with pets from the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO):

• Receipts should be itemized for pet-related expenses. This includes payments made by family members of that service member and expenses below $75, the usual reporting threshold for reimbursements.
• Receipts should match the pet’s name whenever possible, especially if that pet is receiving testing on titer levels or if you’re traveling with multiple pets. Again, receipts should cover one pet per service member. You cannot split a reimbursement to cover multiple pets.
• Applications should include non-availability letters that cover commercial travel if applicable. Service members on government-contracted flights should receive receipts at the time of travel.
• Include any information on receipts that explains additional pet fees. That can include your pet’s weight if that’s relevant to the cost of their travel or required vaccinations to meet destination requirements.

Reimbursements aren’t retroactive. If you incurred pet expenses for a relocation before a PCS that started on Jan. 1, 2024, the DOD won’t reimburse those pet transportation costs. 

You can get reimbursed for fees paid before then, though, as long as the move isn’t until after that date. This is to cover relevant vet visits or vaccination requirements to prep your pet for travel. 

Making Relocation Stress-Free

Any potential reimbursement for the expense of a pet’s relocation is great news. It can be a lot of work to navigate each piece of that relocation, though, especially if you’re traveling to a destination with complex requirements to meet.We can help. We’ve worked with thousands of pet owners, including military service members, who want their pets to join them on a big move. We’re experts in not only simplifying the process for our clients but also relieving some of the stress of relocating a pet.

Ready to get started? Fill out a quote request to get an idea of what your pet’s travel could look like and the costs involved.