How to Choose a Pet Shipper (and Avoid Getting Scammed)

Let's be honest. When you Google "pet shipping," you get hit with a wall of companies that all look pretty much the same. Nice website, stock photos of happy dogs, promises about "safe and stress-free transport." But behind some of those polished websites are operations that range from merely incompetent to outright criminal.

Pet shipping scams are a real thing. The IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association) maintains an active list of known scam operations, and new ones pop up constantly. Some of these fake companies take your money and disappear. Others actually do move animals but do it so poorly that pets arrive sick, injured, or traumatized.

The good news is that there are plenty of excellent, legitimate pet shippers out there. You just need to know how to tell them apart from the bad ones. Here's how.

If you see any of these, stop talking to that company and move on:

Pricing Red Flags

• Their quote is dramatically lower than everyone else's. If three companies quote you $2,000 to $3,000 and one comes in at $800, that's not a bargain. Either they're going to hit you with "unexpected" fees later, or they're not a real company at all.
• They keep adding fees after you've committed. A legitimate shipper gives you a detailed quote upfront. Scammers quote low, then suddenly need an "insurance fee," a "crate upgrade fee," a "customs clearance fee," and a "pet vaccination fee" that wasn't mentioned before. Each one is small enough that you pay it, and by the end you've spent twice the original quote.
• They want payment via wire transfer, Western Union, Zelle, Venmo, or gift cards. These payment methods are untraceable and non-refundable. Legitimate companies accept credit cards and provide invoices. If someone insists on Venmo for a $3,000 transaction, run.

Communication Red Flags

• They won't talk on the phone. Scam operations hide behind email and text because they're often running multiple fake companies simultaneously. A real pet shipper will happily get on a phone call to discuss your move.
• Their email uses a free provider. If you're corresponding with petshippingpro@gmail.com instead of sarah@companydomain.com, that's a problem. Legitimate businesses use their own domain for email.
• No physical address listed. Check their website. If there's no street address, no phone number, and the only way to reach them is through a contact form, that's a red flag. Google the address they do list. Is it a real office, or is it a vacant lot?
• Spelling errors and robotic language. Professional companies hire people who can write clearly. Emails full of grammar mistakes or that read like they were translated by a machine are a warning sign.

Website Red Flags

• The website is brand new. Use a WHOIS lookup tool to check when the domain was registered. If it's less than 6 months old, be very cautious. Scammers create new sites constantly because old ones get reported and taken down.
• Stock photos everywhere. Legitimate pet shippers have photos of their actual vehicles, facilities, and team. If every image on the site is a generic stock photo, that's suspicious.
• They claim associations they don't have. Some scam sites display IPATA or USDA logos without actually being members. Always verify by searching the IPATA member directory directly at ipata.org.

You'll see IPATA mentioned a lot when you're shopping for pet shippers. Here's what it actually means and why it matters.

IPATA is the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association, a nonprofit trade association with over 485 members in more than 90 countries. It's the closest thing the pet shipping industry has to a professional accreditation body.

What Members Have to Do

• At least one staff member must pass the Pet Shipping Proficiency Exam with 80% or higher.
• At least one staff member must complete the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) training course. This is the international standard for shipping live animals by air.
• The company must carry business liability insurance and provide proof of coverage.
• New applicants need references from at least 2 existing IPATA members (one of which must be another pet shipper).
• All new members start as provisional members for one year, regardless of experience. They can be removed if they don't meet standards.
• All members must follow IPATA's code of ethics, which covers humane treatment, honest pricing, and professional conduct.

What IPATA Membership Doesn't Mean

It's not a government license or a guarantee of perfect service. IPATA is a trade association, not a regulatory body. But it does mean the company has been vetted by other professionals in the industry, has trained staff, carries insurance, and has agreed to a code of ethics. That puts them miles ahead of a random company you found on Google.

Before you hand over your credit card, ask these questions. A good shipper will answer all of them clearly and without hesitation. Evasive or vague answers are a sign to keep looking.

1. "Are you the company that will physically handle my pet, or do you subcontract?" Some companies are brokers, not shippers. They take your money and hire someone else to do the actual transport. That's not always a dealbreaker, but you should know who's actually moving your pet.
2. "Can I get an itemized quote?" You want to see every line item: airline fees, crate cost, vet paperwork handling, ground transport, customs clearance, insurance. A lump sum with no breakdown is a red flag.
3. "What's your experience with my specific route and destination?" A company that ships 100 pets a year to the UK might have zero experience with Japan. Country-specific knowledge matters because paperwork requirements vary dramatically.
4. "What happens if my pet's flight gets delayed or cancelled?" You want to know their contingency plan. Where does your pet stay? Who feeds and walks them? Is there an extra charge?
5. "Can I see your IPATA membership or USDA transporter license?" They should be able to provide this immediately. If they hedge or say they'll "get back to you," that's a problem.
6. "Do you carry insurance, and what does it cover?" Look for animal bailee coverage, which specifically covers pets in their care. General liability alone may not cover your pet if something goes wrong during transport.
7. "Can you provide references from past customers?" A legit company will happily connect you with previous clients. Ask for 2 to 3 references and actually call them.
8. "What kind of crate will my pet travel in, and who provides it?" They should be able to tell you the exact crate model and size for your pet. They should also know whether it meets IATA requirements.
9. "How will I track my pet during transit?" Good companies provide regular updates, photos, and tracking information. Some offer GPS tracking. If the company says "we'll let you know when they arrive," that's not enough.
10. "What's your cancellation and refund policy?" Get this in writing before you book. Things change. Flights get cancelled, orders get delayed, moves fall through. You should know exactly what happens to your deposit.

When you get quotes from multiple companies (and you should get at least 3), you need to compare apples to apples. Here's what a good quote should include and what to watch for:

What Should Be in the Quote

• Airline or transport company fees
• Crate cost (or confirmation you're providing your own)
• Veterinary document preparation and submission fees
• USDA endorsement fees
• Ground transport at origin and destination
• Customs clearance at destination
• Any quarantine or boarding fees
• Transit insurance

Watch for These Quote Tricks

• "Estimated" fees. If half the line items say "estimated" or "approximate," you could end up paying much more. Ask which fees are fixed and which might change.
• Missing items. Compare your quotes side by side. If Company A includes customs clearance and Company B doesn't mention it, Company B isn't cheaper. They're just not telling you about that cost yet.
• Currency confusion. For international moves, make sure you know which currency the quote is in. A quote in GBP or EUR will look different from USD.

This is the part most people skip, and it's the part that matters most if something goes wrong.

What to Look For

• Animal bailee coverage. This is the most important type of insurance for pet transport. It specifically covers injuries, illness, or loss that happen while your pet is in the shipper's care. Not every company carries it.
• Commercial auto insurance. For ground transport, the driver should have commercial auto coverage. Personal auto insurance doesn't cover commercial pet transport.
• General liability. This covers third-party claims (like if your pet bites someone during transit) but usually doesn't cover harm to your pet directly.

Questions to Ask About Insurance

• What is the maximum coverage per pet?
• Is there a deductible?
• Does coverage apply during the entire journey (including layovers and boarding)?
• What qualifies as a covered event?

Some companies offer optional supplemental insurance for an extra fee (typically $50 to $200). If your pet is a high-value breed or has special medical needs, the extra coverage can be worth it.

Before you book with any pet shipping company, run through this list:

1. Search the IPATA directory at ipata.org. Is the company listed?
2. Check Google Reviews and Trustpilot. Look for patterns. One bad review can be a fluke. Ten bad reviews with the same complaint is a pattern.
3. Look up their BBB profile. Check for complaints, response rate, and accreditation status.
4. WHOIS their domain. When was the website registered? How long have they been around?
5. Google their phone number. Does it come up associated with other businesses or scam reports?
6. Ask for their USDA transporter license number (for US-based ground transporters). Call the USDA APHIS office to verify if needed.
7. Request references and actually call them. Ask the references about communication, timeliness, and the condition of their pet on arrival.
8. Get the quote in writing with an itemized breakdown. Make sure it includes their cancellation and refund policy.
9. Pay by credit card. Never wire transfer, Zelle, Venmo, or gift cards. Credit cards give you chargeback protection if the company doesn't deliver.
10. Trust your gut. If something feels off, if they're rushing you, pressuring you, or can't answer basic questions, walk away. There are plenty of good shippers out there.