Understand-a-Bull has compiled a useful list of countries with BSL and the breeds affected in those

Last week, Qantas airline announced some changes to their breed-specific regulations, lifting their controversial ban on American Staffordshire Terriers and allowing snub-nosed breeds to travel internationally. These changes are largely regarded as good news, but they raise a few questions about breed-specific regulations: How widespread are they? What are their purposes? What animals are affected?
As with most aspects of pet air travel, nothing is written in stone and regulations vary widely. Additionally, some airlines have breed-specific policies which change depending on the time of year (as we discussed in an earlier post about traveling with pets during the summer ). Here's a brief summary of 4 different types of breed-specific regulations of which owners should be aware if they are planning on traveling with their pet.
Many airlines have embargoes or restrictions on brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds. You can find a list of dog and cat breeds that fall under this category on the PetRelocation blog . These regulations are out of concern for the animals' safety, as these breeds are prone to breathing difficulties which could turn dangerous during the stress of travel. Regulations are largely in place during the summer months, as brachycephalic breeds have trouble regulating their body temperatures and are more prone to heat stroke than their non-snubby brethren.
United Airlines doesn't allow brachycephalic breeds to fly between May and September, and temperatures rent a car lax california under 25 must be below 85 degrees Fahrenheit in order to fly these breeds any other time of year. Additionally, United has a year-round embargo on adult Bulldogs who are older than six months and weigh more than 20 pounds. Brachycephalic breeds are typically required to ride in a crate which is a size larger than what they would normally need in order to ensure sufficient ventilation.
Some breeds of dog are considered especially strong (and, controversially, prone to aggression) and are subject to special regulations concerning the way they are transported. In the case of United Airlines, these breeds include the following:
The regulations concerning these breeds are designed to make sure that these animals are not able to break free of their crates during travel. This, of course, would pose a risk to the escaped animal and potentially a risk to the other animals being stored in the cargo hold.
Adults of these breeds (those who are older than 6 months or weigh more than 20 pounds) are frequently required to be shipped in containers which meet IATA Container Requirement #82. These reinforced crates are usually custom-made and must be constructed out of materials other than plastic (wood, metal, and wire mesh are common).
Some countries have established Breed-Specific Legislation (or BSL) in order to limit or prohibit the entry of dog breeds which are sometimes deemed "dangerous". The list of breeds affected by these regulations overlaps significantly with the list of breeds which require reinforced crates (see above).
Such legislation is highly controversial, as it assumes that all dogs of a given breed are dangerous by nature. Many owners of these breeds argue that a dog's temperament is determined by its treatment and upbringing, and claim that their pets are as sweet and loving as any other dog.
Because the authorities behind the creation of BSL assume that affected breeds are innately rent a car lax california under 25 dangerous, the intention rent a car lax california under 25 of such legislation rent a car lax california under 25 is to prevent attacks by these dogs on humans or other animals.
rent a car lax california under 25 Understand-a-Bull has compiled a useful list of countries with BSL and the breeds affected in those countries. To find out if a country you are planning on visiting has BSL, try finding the website for that country's Department of Agriculture and looking up their pet import requirements on that page.
Many exotic pets (such as birds, amphibians, and reptiles) are species which are regulated by CITES. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) monitors and protects endangered species and species which may be subject to endangerment if not controlled. Regulations are in place to ensure that international trade (and transportation) of these species does not endanger their survival or the survival of native species.
In many cases, CITES-protected species require both import and export CITES permits from their respective countries in order to be transported internationally. Permits can take up to 6 months to obtain, so owners planning on traveling with these species will need to start planning their trip well in advance.
If you plan on traveling with pets, be sure to check the policies of your chosen airline/country of destination by contacting them directly. That being said, this list is a good place to start if you are not sure whether or not your pet will be subject to breed-specific regulation.