Pentagon Considers Reimbursing Pet Shipping Costs During Pandemic
14 May 2020
Military.com | By
Amy Bushatz
Military members could be reimbursed for the extra costs of relocating their pets as part of a permanent change-of-station move during the pandemic, Pentagon officials said Thursday.
In normal circumstances, service members must
pay out of pocket to move their pets during a
PCS. Troops moving stateside typically drive their pets or ship them on a commercial airline, an option that can also cost hundreds of dollars. Troops moving overseas can sometimes ship their pets with them as part of a Patriot Express flight. Doing so can cost around $400. But space for pets on those flights is very limited, and only two pets are allowed per family.
But thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial airlines have suspended pet travel services. That means troops who are relocating must either snag hard-to-get Patriot Express space, drive their pets or, if that's not an option, hire a pet shipping service, which can cost thousands of dollars...
