Recent disappearance of a pet from a Delta flight has made it to the news on the world wide web and the concerns of the pet owners have been taken so vociferously on internet that the subject of pet safety while flying has become a talking point. While it is incumbent upon the airlines to ensure the safety of every living being as well as non-living beings such a luggage on board, it is also important for the pet owners to prepare themselves and their pets well before flying. Here is a checklist of what all shall be done in this respect:

1. Have all documents pertaining to the pet: Airline do need to have proper documentation relating to the health of the pet before it can fly. The carrier of the pets shall be appropriately labelled with owner’s contact information.

2. Buy a good crate: Department of Transportation of USA has noted that there are visible signs of bloody teeth and nails whenever pets are transported. This is attributed to the separation of pets from their masters. In order to ensure that they do not harm themselves due to this behaviour, which might even be a life-risking situation, it is suggested that the pets be carried in a high quality crate.

3. Avoid use of sedatives: If you thought that the use of sedatives on pets is okay for one reason that these will not cause any trouble, then you could actually be playing with their lives. The use of these substances impedes respiration and cardiovascular functions.

4. Never miss reading the airline policies on pets: Every airline has its own set of rules and regulations for carrying pets. Generally, these policies pertain to crate requirement, in-cabin carriage, cargo-hold considerations, breed restrictions, temperature regulation and route restrictions.

5. Do train your pets: It pays to train your pets when flying. This way they are more likely to have an ordered behavior during flight.