An international airline that military families praise for its treatment of pets will soon suspend dog import services.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent policy change regarding dog rabies and rabies vaccinations prompted Lufthansa Airlines to suspend its dog import services beginning Aug. 1 – including for those who have already purchased tickets.
“New bookings for dogs to the U.S. with a flight date on or after Aug. 1 will only be accepted for the airports in Washington, DC, New York-JFK, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles and Philadelphia,” Lufthansa stated in its updated guidance. “Animal transports to other destinations as air freight are still possible. Passengers are requested to contact a pet shipping agent for this.”
Bookings confirmed before July 3 can be rebooked before Aug. 1, rebooked without the dog, or refunded.
Liz Hensel, CEO of Leave No Paws Behind USA and a Marine Corps veteran, said she doesn’t blame Lufthansa and that the airline has historically been the “best in the business” for pet travel.
“I’m stressed out for these families that I have never even met, but I know they’re about to PCS,” Hensel said.
Owners of canines entering the U.S. from countries with a high-risk for dog rabies must complete two forms – the CDC Dog Import form receipt and a Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form or USDA-endorse export health certificate – if the dog was vaccinated against rabies in the states and in a high-risk country for at least six months before “entering or returning to the U.S.” Additional information is needed for dogs that were vaccinated outside of the U.S.
For those returning to or entering the United States from low-risk or no-risk countries for dog rabies, only the CDC Import Form is needed and can be completed the day of travel.
“The receipt will be good for travel into the U.S. for six months from the date of issuance, including multiple entries,” the CDC stated. “All dogs entering the United States must have a microchip and be over six months of age.”
Hensel, also the 2024 AFI Marine Corps Spouse of the Year, said language allowing reimbursements for pet travel passed in 2024 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Those PCSing on OCONUS orders can be reimbursed up to $2,000 and up to $500 within the United States.
But the CDC changes would force families to use pet shippers, rather than airlines like Lufthansa, according to Hensel.
“Now that $2,000 for [an] OCONUS move is going to be nothing,” Hensel said, noting that to travel with her family dogs to Tel Aviv, the cost was roughly $740.
To return to the states with their dogs, using a pet shipper, the same trip would cost around $3,600, Hensel said.
“That’s what’s really frustrating for me,” Hensel said. “There wasn’t a lot of window for families to understand the change.”
Hensel, who has been in contact with Lufthansa as the deadline nears, said Leave No Paws Left Behind USA hopes the CDC will “address airlines directly” to let them know a waiver is in place or that there’s no need to cancel in-cabin excess baggage services.
For those who want to get involved, Hensel said to write to their members of Congress because the issue is at the CDC level.
“This is beyond what one person can do,” Hensel said. “We have to get our administration involved, and this is where I would highly urge people, any pet lover in general who would be affected traveling with their pets … let them know this is affecting military members.”
For more information, or to obtain the CDC import form, visit the CDC’s website.
