Flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles with your Pet

What documents do I need to fly my pet from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

Flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles with your dog is straightforward. When flying a dog from San Francisco to Los Angeles, you are performing an intrastate (within the same state) trip. This simplifies the legal requirements significantly compared to crossing state or national borders. California is vigilant about rabies and health documentation, so to ensure a smooth trip, we recommend beginning preparation at least 4 weeks before departure.

Step 1

Your dog

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Be at least 8 weeks old on the day of travel (federal requirement for air travel).
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Appear healthy and free of infectious diseases.

Step 2

Documents and vaccinations

All dogs will require the following documents. Note that California's timeline for health certificates is stricter than many other states.

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Rabies Vaccination: All dogs 4 months or older are required to have a Rabies vaccination.
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  1-year or 3-year vaccines are accepted.
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  The vaccination certificate must be signed by a licensed veterinarian and include the vaccine product name and date.
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Fit-to-fly sign off: we require your vet to explicitly state the animal is "fit to fly", issued within 10 days of your flight.

Please note, for all classes of travel, you are responsible for your vet fees.

Step 3

Further Recommendations

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Identification: Ensure your dog is wearing a collar with an ID tag containing your current contact information.
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Microchips: While not legally required for domestic entry into California, they are strongly recommended. Ensure your contact info is updated in the registry.
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Los Angeles Local Licensing: If you plan to stay in Los Angeles for more than 30 days, you are required to license your dog with LA Animal Services (City) or LA County Animal Care & Control.
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  Dogs over 4 months old must be licensed locally if they reside in the city/county.

Need further assistance? Speak to a member of our team.