Best Pet Shipping Companies (2024)

Air Animal earned a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on our scoring methodology. The company has one of the best online reputations we encountered and is an industry pioneer. It doesn’t have as many service options as other providers, but its customer service and quality kennels landed it at the top. Here’s how it did in each category:

• Services (20 out of 30 points): Air Animal provides all standard pet shipping services, such as ground and air transportation, but it doesn’t offer adoption assistance or boarding options.
• Reputation (25 out of 25 points): The company has one of the best reputations in our review, with high marks across the BBB and other online review sites.
• Additional Perks (20 out of 20 points): We were impressed with Air Animal’s crate and kennel options and its GPS tracking.
• Years in Business (25 out of 25 points): The company is an industry pioneer, founded in 1977.

Air Animal offers a comprehensive selection of pet shipping services. The company provides both shared and private ground transportation services, as well as air transportation options. The company’s services also include the following:

• Concierge services for U.S. Customs clearance
• Express pet shipments
• GPS tracking
• Private van transportation
• Vet services
• VIP transportation

We were quoted $2,500 to ship an animal between 25 and 50 pounds from the Eastern U.S. to the West Coast. This cost included a kennel with shared ground transportation. We did this by going through Air Animal’s quote form on its website. 

Starwood scored 4.5 out of 5 stars, like Air Animal. The company also offers similar services to Air Animal, but it lacks accreditation on the BBB, which places Starwood right below Air Animal on our methodology. Here’s how it did across our key categories:

• Services (20 out of 30 points): Starwood provides the standard pet shipping services we score for, such as ground and air transportation. It doesn’t offer adoption or boarding services. 
• Reputation (24 out of 25 points): Starwood has an excellent rating on the BBB, but the company doesn’t have an accreditation. 
• Additional Perks (20 out of 20 points): The company includes tracking with its services, and we found its crate options to be top-notch.
• Years in Business (25 out of 25 points): Starwood was founded in 1984, so the company brings ample experience to its services.

Starwood provides a comprehensive selection of pet shipping services, including ground and air transportation options. Its pet protection plans provide additional security to your pet’s transportation and include options such as up to $2,500 in veterinary expenses, up to $4,000 in emergency representations, and up to $1,500 for trip interruption expenses.

Here are all the services the company offers:

• Door-to-door transport
• Door-to-hub transport
• Flight nanny services
• GPS tracking
• Hub-to-door transport
• Hub-to-hub transport
• Pet protection plans
• Vet services

We obtained two quotes from Starwood to move a German shepherd (roughly 70 pounds) from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Using its hub-to-hub service would cost $1,800. You would need to take your German shepherd to Jacksonville, Florida, and pick it up in Los Angeles on your own. The company’s all-inclusive door-to-door service would cost $3,055.

We awarded Airpets International 4.2 out of 5 stars. The company offers one of the most extensive service selections and maintains a great reputation from previous customers. It doesn’t include GPS tracking or adoption assistance. Here’s how it rated in each category.

• Services (25 out of 30 points): Airpets International features a comprehensive service selection that it tailors to each pet’s needs, including lodging services and programs for pet exercise. 
• Reputation (24 out of 25 points): The company features a positive reputation with the BBB and on Google Reviews.
• Additional Perks (10 out of 20 points): We’re impressed with the company’s high-quality, climate-controlled kennel and crate services, but it falls short because it doesn’t include tracking like many other pet shippers.
• Years in Business (25 out of 25 points): Airpets has been in business for more than 30 years.

Airpets International offers various pet shipping services to provide as much comfort for your furry friend as possible. One notable service is the company’s pet lodging services, which include spacious, temperature-controlled overnight accommodations. This option allows you to control when your pet reaches your new home while they remain comfortable.

Below are the other services Airpets International provides:

• Cat and dog grooming
• Crate preparation and training
• First-class air transportation
• Pet air transportation
• Pet exercise
• Pet ground transportation
• Pet transit permits, customs clearance, and quarantine arrangements
• Veterinary services

Airpets International meets you and your pet to figure out the best services for relocation, and to provide the most accurate cost. The company does state that moving a small animal in any of the 48 continental states starts at $900. International moves with small animals start at $2,000.

BCPT earned 3.8 out of 5 stars. The company’s reputation falters due to some confusion around its advertising in the past, and it doesn’t provide any lodging or adoption services. Here’s how it did in each category:

• Services (20 out of 30 points): The company offers all the standard services, such as ground and air transport and a unique private jet transport service. However, it doesn’t provide any lodging services despite this luxury option. 
• Reputation (20 out of 25 points): BCPT features a lower reputation due to a BBB alert from 2019. The company provided evidence for all its advertising claims, except for confirming that all transportation happens promptly. 
• Additional Perks (20 out of 20 points): The company includes high-quality kennels, crates, and GPS tracking on each transport.
• Years in Business (15 out of 25 points): BCPT is a newer company compared to the veterans listed above, starting in only 2019.

BCPT offers a wide selection of pet shipping services for long-distance and international pet moves. Some standout services include its luxury private jet pet shipping service and its user-friendly mobile app.

Other services with BCPT include the following:

• Central Florida pet transport
• GPS tracking
• Private air transportation
• Private ground transportation
• Shared air transportation
• Shared ground transportation

BCPT creates customized pet shipping packages through a thorough consultation process, so it doesn’t offer much pricing information online. It does share that its in-cabin air transport runs between $1,600 and $2,500 in the 48 contiguous states.

It also shares that flights involving Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and a select few other international flights cost between $2,500 and $7,500. Your final price is also subject to additional fees based on the airline you use.

Happy Tails Travel scored 3.3 out of 5 stars. It’s one of the few companies to offer assistance with adoption services integrated into your pet shipping. Here’s how it did across our key categories:

• Services (25 out of 30 points): The company gains a lot of points for its quality air and ground transportation options and the fact that it offers adoption services. It doesn’t offer any lodging services. 
• Reputation (25 out of 25 points): Happy Tails Travel features an A+ rating* and accreditation from the BBB.
• Additional Perks (20 out of 20 points): The company scored all points because it offers crates, kennel services, and GPS tracking. 
• Years in Business (15 out of 25 points): Happy Tails Travel has more than 29 years of experience.

*All BBB ratings in our review are accurate as of February 2024.

Happy Tails Travel provides various services for cats and dogs for both domestic and international moves. The company even works with shelters and veterinarians to provide adoption services. It also offers kennel services, preflight conditioning, and other air and ground transportation needs.

Here is a list of Happy Tail Travel’s services:

• GPS tracking
• International pet shipping services
• Military moving services
• Private ground transportation
• Shared air transportation
• Shared ground transportation

Happy Tails Travel provides pricing information on its website, including what factors influence your overall cost. The company states that standard ground transportation for one pet costs about $300. It also states that its private ground transportation service for one pet for a move exceeding 500 miles costs between $950 and $4,500.

Royal Paws scored 3.2 out of 5 stars. The company only focuses on ground transportation and doesn’t offer vet or lodging services. Royal Paws features a highly positive reputation for its high-end ground transportation options, including luxury options for an individual vehicle for your pet. Here’s how it rated in each category:

• Services (10 out of 30 points): The company lost many points because it only focuses on ground transportation. It overall lacks when it comes to additional services.
• Reputation (24 out of 25 points): The company has an A+ rating on the BBB but doesn’t hold an accreditation. 
• Additional Perks (20 out of 20 points): Royal Paws doesn’t offer kennels, but its option for your pet to travel in a private car provides the same perks. The company doesn’t specifically offer GPS tracking, but you can receive phone, text, and video updates as often as you want.
• Years in Business (15 out of 25 points): Royal Paws started in 2000, so it features much less industry experience than Air Animal and Starwood.

Royal Paws only provides private ground transportation for single-family pets. This means your pet or pets will not share a space with other animals. These moves are conducted with regularly cleaned, climate-controlled, roomy SUVs or minivans.

Below are Royal Paws’ service options:

• Private cat ground transportation
• Private dog ground transportation
• Other private ground pet transportation
• Updates for the move via Facebook, phone, text, or video

Royal Paws custom-tailors services according to a consultation with you and your pets. It doesn’t feature any online pricing information, and we couldn’t move forward in the quote process without having a legitimate pet to transport.

uShip scored 4.2 out of 5 stars via our methodology for professional moving companies, not pet shipping companies. This is why the categories below differ from the other providers’ categories. We included uShip in this review because you might receive a competitive offer from the company compared to traditional pet shippers. uShip connects you with plenty of options for pet shipping, but your options might be limited based on your move’s criteria and locations. 

Here’s how it did across key categories:

• Moving Services (59 out of 59 points): uShip provides all kinds of moving services and ground transportation options for pet shipping.
• Insurance Coverage (5 out of 8 points): The company can provide possible insurance options for your pet, but we find it unlikely, given how limited uShip’s pet shipping service is compared to its general moving services.
• Additional Benefits (7 out of 13 points): Unfortunately, additional benefits are lacking with uShip, but one of its main standouts is that it offers GPS tracking on your shipment.
• Customer Service (9 out of 12 points): uShip features an overall positive reputation, but your experience might depend on what shippers you’re connected with through the platform.

uShip’s pet shipping services depend on your location and the available shippers that fulfill your pet’s needs. Each pet shipper on uShip is vetted by the company’s ​​Trust & Safety team, so they meet all the guidelines and licenses required. uShip also offers all-risk, full-value cargo insurance. This means you can be compensated for any losses or damage during transit. The company’s cargo insurance is backed by Lloyd’s, a global insurance specialist.

Here is a short list of the company’s services:

• Cargo insurance
• GPS tracking
• Ground transportation pet shipping
• Moving tips and blog

Your price ultimately depends on the bids you receive, but uShip states on its website that its average cost is $350–$600 for long-distance moves and $100–$300 for shorter distances. You can see the price of previous pet shipping jobs on uShip’s cost-to-ship index.