first-pickupforwardforward-arrow-onlypaymentsshield-with-checksuccess
Smart Shipping
Learn More
Easy Tracking
Learn More
Secure Payments
Learn More
uShip Guarantee
Learn More

Animal Shipping with uShip



When it comes to animal shipping, you want the most reliable transportation at the best rates. uShip helps you find what you need when looking for animal shippers. We’ll help you find out how to ship animals, help you get quotes from professional animal transporters, and give you some helpful tips along the way. If you should stray too far from the herd, just contact us and we’ll be happy to shepherd you back on track.

The uShip marketplace allows you to find the best animal shipping companies at a price within your budget. Create your listing including your needs for the shipment and be as detailed as possible. As your shipment listing is completed, you will start getting quotes from transporters who specialize in animal shipping as they compete for your business. You can then talk to them directly and review their carrier profiles with their transportation history, safety records and customer rated feedback. Select the animal transporter that’s best for the job and work with them directly for your animal delivery.

How to Ship an Animal



With uShip, shipping live animals is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1 | Create Your Listing

First, you’ll want to consider the needs of your animal, your timeframe and the pickup and delivery locations. Make sure you’re ready with the animal’s breed, age, weight, and any special needs the animal may have. Let us know if you have your own trailer or if the transporter should provide a trailer for safe animal shipping. As you are listing the shipment needs for your animal, be as detailed as possible.

Horses in horse trailer
Boxer puppy in grass

2 | Choose the Best Animal Shipping Company

Once your shipment listing is completed, you’ll start receiving quotes from animal transport companies as they compete for your business. As the quotes come through, you can ask questions and talk directly to the animal shipping services. This will give you a good idea of their response time and personality.

Every animal transport service has their own carrier profile with their animal transportation history, customer rated feedback and safety records for your review. Most carriers have photos of their equipment on their profile so you can see exactly what your animals will be transported in. See how many animal transportations they have completed like yours and the feedback left from their previous customers. Review these profiles, talk to the animal shipping companies, and take the quotes into consideration to feel confident you are choosing the best animal transport at the best rate.

3 | Shipping Animals & Delivery

After you have selected your animal shipping, contact them with any additional details, questions or concerns you may have about your shipment. Share any third-party contact information that could make the shipment run smoothly. Work with your transporter on a good pickup and delivery location for your animal. If you run into any issues, let us know. We’re here to help before, during and after your animal delivery.

Get Quotes Now
Long haired brown cat in pet carrier

Required Documents for Shipping Live Animals



Although not an exhaustive list for all animal shipping companies, the following documents are generally required:

  • Heath certificates: A health certificate that is issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian. This needs to be within 10 days of travel for the departure and return trip.
  • Rabies vaccination certificate: If over the age of 12 weeks, dogs and cats must have a signed rabies vaccination certificated issued by a licensed veterinarian.
  • Certificate of Acclimation: For warm-blooded animals that need temperatures to stay below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • International travel documents: Depending on the destination country, there may be additional documentation required. This can include testing, import permits, customs documents, endorsements, and government approvals.
  • Pregnant animals: Ensure that a licensed veterinarian has clarified that the pregnant animal is fit to travel on certified documents.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship an Animal?



The cost to ship an animal is dependent on how far the animal is being shipped, any special needs the animal may have, and what kind of preparation you may need from the transporter. The average cost to ship an animal is $2.00 per mile for shorter distance transport and $1.30 for longer distance transport.

To get a closer look at what your animal shipping may cost, check out our cost to ship page. There, you’ll see hundreds of previous animal shipments completed through the uShip marketplace and get a better feel for how we work.

Preparing Your Animal for Transport



As soon as you know you will need to transport your animal, begin preparing them.

  • Take your animal to a vet for a full checkup and ask for copies of vaccination and other health records.
  • Research the state and city animal regulations for its new home and fulfill those obligations.
  • Verify that your animal has the appropriate identification and paperwork necessary to be transferred to a new city or state.
  • Arrange for pet transport — Decide how you will ship your pet and compare prices of several options.
  • Purchase the necessary supplies and prepare your animal for transport by crate training it or taking it on more rides in the car or training it to load onto a trailer.

Find out more about international animal shipments, choosing the right pet crate, and how to ship a pet by air.

Ready for Your Animal Shipping Quotes?

Get Started

Need to find a moving service?

Learn More