AER Offers Financial Assistance for Moving with Pets

Pets are a part of the Family and AER recognizes the financial burden pet transportation can cause during a PCS. To help alleviate this, AER created the Pet Transportation Assistance Program. (Graphic by Ocean Shaked-Miller, Army Emergency Relief)

Do you or someone you know need assistance with pet transportation costs? 

Army Emergency Relief has a Pet Transportation Assistance program to help reduce the financial burden on Soldiers and Families during Permanent Change of Station. Soldiers and Families have had fewer options for transporting pets to and from overseas locations and, due to reduced capacity for pet transportation on commercial and military flights, shipping costs have gone up substantially.

To help alleviate some of this burden, AER has begun offering no-interest loans of up to $5,500 for eligible individuals. Pet transportation assistance will be issued as a grant for VA-approved service dogs.

So, who’s eligible?

  • Soldiers on Active Duty and their Families
  • Members of the Reserve Component of the Army (National Guard and Army Reserve under Title 10 S.C) on Active Guard and Reserve tours
  • Members of the Reserve Component of the Army (National Guard and Army Reserve) activated with PCS Entitlements (i.e. USASMA or the War College)

How to apply

Like most AER assistance requests, Pet Transportation assistance is processed by your nearest AER officer or any military aid office. Soldiers can go directly to their AER office or ask their chain of command for help.

Not located within 50 miles of a military aid office? No problem! The American Red Cross is authorized to process AER assistance requests for Soldiers located further than 50 miles from their nearest military aid office. Call 1-877-272-7337 to request assistance through the American Red Cross.

Are you an AER Officer?

  • Download the Pet Transportation Assistance Bulletin (03-2021). 
  • Download the Pet Transportation Assistance Graphic.

Editor’s Note: This post was published on June 11, 2021, and was updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

blocks-pb3-01