The Department of Defense is taking another action to acknowledging furry buddies as member of the family. On June 21, 2023, DoD authorized a brand-new policy to cover pet travel costs, like family pet shipping or quarantine costs, sustained by service members throughout a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). But, prior to you start purchasing glamorous luggage for your guinea pigs, make certain you understand the guidelines: It’s simply for dogs and cats. And just one. Not both. Baby actions.
As of January 1, 2024, military service members going through a PCS within the continental United States can be repaid as much as $550 for one household family pet, either cat or dog, and as much as $2,000 for transfer to or from an area outside the continental United States to cover expenses associated with the transport of an animal.
The services approximate that this brand-new allowance might be utilized by an approximated 227,000 service members. Historically, service members paid most of out-of-pocket costs to transfer family pets when appointed to a new duty station. This policy minimizes that monetary concern while acknowledging the crucial function an animal plays in a military family’s household.
According to the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), service members spend approximately $5,000 in out-of-pocket, non-reimbursable expenses throughout a PCS.
