Pet Relocation Built Around PCS Orders
A PCS move comes with a report date, a transportation office, and a stack of orders — and your pet’s move has to fit inside all of it. Across The Pond Pets plans military pet relocations around those realities: the import rules of your new duty station, Patriot Express pet space, quarantine programs, and the receipts you’ll need for reimbursement.
We help active-duty service members, their families, DoD civilians, and contractors move dogs and cats to and from installations worldwide. Start with the guide for your destination below, or send us your orders and pet’s records and we’ll map your dates.
- IPATA member
- Teams at SEA-TAC & LAX
- All service branches
The earlier you call, the more options you have. Japan’s 180-day wait, Guam’s 120-day countdown, and Hawaii’s 30-day wait all start from a blood test — not from your orders. If an assignment to one of these places is even possible, testing early can be the difference between same-day release and months in quarantine.
PCS Pet Guides by Destination
Each guide covers the import rules step by step, a countdown to your report date, Patriot Express and reimbursement details, the installations we support, and what to do if your orders came too fast.
Asia
PCS to Japan with Pets
Two rabies shots, a titer test, and a 180-day wait. Includes Okinawa, Yokota, Yokosuka, Misawa, and Iwakuni.
Read the Japan guide →Asia
PCS to Korea with Pets
A titer test with no waiting period and same-day release. Camp Humphreys, Osan, Daegu, and Kunsan.
Read the Korea guide →Europe
PCS to Germany with Pets
EU rules, no titer or tapeworm treatment, and a federal ban on four dog breeds. Ramstein, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, Bavaria.
Read the Germany guide →Europe
PCS to the UK with Pets
Cargo-only entry on commercial flights, a strict tapeworm window, and banned breeds including the XL Bully. Lakenheath and Mildenhall.
Read the UK guide →Europe
PCS to Italy with Pets
EU rules, no national breed ban, and commercial flights since the Patriot Express left Naples and Sigonella. Aviano and Vicenza too.
Read the Italy guide →Pacific
PCS to Hawaii with Pets
Two rabies shots, a titer test, and a 30-day wait for Direct Airport Release in Honolulu. Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Schofield, Kaneohe Bay.
Read the Hawaii guide →Pacific
PCS to Guam with Pets
An entry permit, a titer test, and a 120-day countdown — or no quarantine from Japan or Hawaii. Andersen, Naval Base Guam, Camp Blaz.
Read the Guam guide →Coming home
PCS Back to the U.S. with Pets
CDC dog import rules, export steps, and pickup at SEA-TAC or LAX with delivery to bases from JBLM to Camp Pendleton.
Read the return guide →Headed somewhere else — Spain, Bahrain, Alaska, or another installation? We move pets to military assignments worldwide. Tell us your destination.
Compare PCS Destinations at a Glance
Lead times assume a dog or cat starting from scratch on the U.S. mainland. Pets with existing vaccinations or a recent titer can often move faster.
| Destination | Minimum prep | Titer test | Wait or quarantine | Patriot Express |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | About 7 months | Yes | 180 days from blood draw | From SEA-TAC |
| South Korea | About 6–8 weeks | Yes | None if compliant | SEA-TAC to Osan |
| Germany | About 4 weeks | No | 21 days after first rabies shot | BWI to Ramstein |
| United Kingdom | About 4 weeks | No | 21 days after first rabies shot | BWI to Mildenhall |
| Italy | About 4 weeks | No | 21 days after first rabies shot | Aviano only |
| Hawaii | About 3 months | Yes | 30 days from lab receipt | None; commercial |
| Guam | About 5–6 months | Yes | 120 days from lab receipt | None; commercial |
Rules change, and Patriot Express routes are set by U.S. Transportation Command. We confirm current requirements for your pet before every move.
How a Military Pet Move Works with Us
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As soon as orders are likely
Review your orders and your pet’s records
Send us your destination, report date, and your pet’s microchip and vaccination records. We tell you the earliest date your pet can arrive without quarantine and what needs to happen first.
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Months to weeks before
Vet prep and documentation
We give your vet or military veterinary treatment facility a step-by-step plan — microchip, vaccinations, titer test, parasite treatments — and check every document before it’s submitted or endorsed.
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2–4 months before
Flights and permits
We help you request Patriot Express pet space through your transportation office, or book a pet-friendly commercial or cargo route when it isn’t available. We file advance notifications, entry permits, and quarantine reservations where required.
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Within 10 days of travel
Health certificate and USDA endorsement
We coordinate the final exam, the destination’s health certificate, and USDA APHIS endorsement so the timing lines up with your flight.
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Travel day and arrival
Departure, clearance, and delivery
We handle airport drop-off, customs clearance for cargo shipments, and ground transport where we operate, and keep you updated until your pet is home — with itemized receipts for your PCS travel voucher.
Patriot Express, JTR Reimbursement, and Help with Costs
Patriot Express
AMC’s contracted PCS flights carry a limited number of dogs and cats — two per family, with each pet and crate under 150 pounds combined. Pet space is first come, first served, and a signed Risk Acknowledgement Document is required to book.
Current pet routes run from SEA-TAC to Japan and Korea and from BWI to Ramstein, Mildenhall, and Aviano.
Up to $2,000
For PCS orders effective on or after January 1, 2024, the Joint Travel Regulations reimburse qualifying costs for one household pet (a dog or cat) on an OCONUS move — including moves to Hawaii, Guam, and back to the U.S.
Keep itemized receipts. Where the Patriot Express flies, commercial shipping needs a non-availability letter.
Extra help
Moving more than one pet or over the cap? Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and Air Force Aid Society may help with pet travel costs, and nonprofits such as SPCA International and Dogs on Deployment support military pet owners.
Our Teams at SEA-TAC and LAX
Two of the busiest military pet routes run through the West Coast, and we have teams at both gateways.
Seattle-Tacoma (SEA-TAC)
The Patriot Express gateway for Japan and Korea. We prepare paperwork, meet families at SEA-TAC, ship pets commercially when PE space runs out, and receive returning pets for delivery to JBLM, Naval Base Kitsap, Whidbey Island, and beyond.
Seattle (SEA-TAC) Pet Transport →Los Angeles (LAX)
A main gateway for commercial and cargo flights to Hawaii, Guam, and Asia. We handle departures and customs clearance for arrivals, with delivery to Camp Pendleton, the San Diego bases, and installations across Southern California.
Los Angeles (LAX) Pet Transport →What We Handle for Military Families
- A personal timeline built around your PCS orders and report date
- Step-by-step vet plans for your vet or military clinic
- Document review before submission and USDA endorsement
- Patriot Express guidance and commercial or cargo flight booking
- Advance notifications, entry permits, and quarantine reservations
- Approved crates and pet-safe, temperature-aware routing
- Customs clearance for pets arriving as cargo
- Boarding and ground transport near SEA-TAC and LAX
- Moves for pets traveling before or after you
- Itemized receipts for your PCS travel voucher
Military Pet Transportation FAQs
Can you plan my pet’s move around my PCS orders?
Yes. We build your pet’s timeline backward from your report date and tell you the earliest date your pet can arrive without quarantine. If your orders don’t leave enough time, we lay out the options, such as having your pet follow you later.
Can my pet fly with me on the Patriot Express?
Often, yes. The Patriot Express carries a limited number of dogs and cats for families on PCS orders, two per family, with each pet and crate under 150 pounds. Request pet space through your transportation office as soon as booking opens. When space isn’t available, we can ship your pet commercially.
Will the military pay for my pet’s move?
For PCS orders effective on or after January 1, 2024, the Joint Travel Regulations reimburse qualifying expenses for one dog or cat up to $2,000 on an OCONUS move. Keep itemized receipts and confirm your eligibility with your finance office.
Which PCS destination takes the longest to prepare for?
Japan, at about seven months from scratch because of its 180-day wait after the titer blood draw. Guam takes about five to six months for the shortest quarantine stay, and Hawaii about three months. Germany, the UK, and Italy can take as little as four weeks.
Do you help with pets coming back to the U.S.?
Yes. We handle CDC Dog Import Form requirements, export steps from your overseas country, and arrivals at SEA-TAC and LAX, including customs clearance, boarding, and delivery to your new base. See our PCS Back to the U.S. guide.
What if I’m moving on short notice?
Call us right away. For destinations without a long waiting period, we can often move quickly. For Japan, Hawaii, and Guam, we’ll compare your options — testing now, a shorter quarantine, or having your pet follow later.
Do you work with DoD civilians and contractors?
Yes. We help active-duty service members and families from every branch, plus DoD civilians, government employees, and contractors. Your travel entitlements and Patriot Express eligibility may differ, so confirm them with your HR or transportation office.
Got PCS Orders? Let’s Map Your Pet’s Move
Send us your destination, report date, and your pet’s records, or call +1-206-317-4515. We’re proud to serve those who serve.
