Household pets clearly play a central role in the lives of their owners. We have only to review the debacle that was Hurricane Katrina last summer to note that many people in harm’s way, threatened with personal injury and death, simply refused to be evacuated without taking their beloved cats and dogs with them.

The human tragedy was immense, but lost and displaced pets were another large part of the problem. Many wonderful volunteer organizations have stepped in since to help resettle these animals. With today’s highly mobile population, air travel with our beloved canine and feline family members is becoming more and more popular. Understanding the animal-handling policies and procedures of our domestic airlines can save time, money and aggravation to you and your traveling companion. Check carefully at each airline as fees and regulations can vary widely.

If your pet is small and in an approved hard- or soft-sided pet carrier and it will fit under the seat in front of you, you may carry your animal onboard the plane with you. You must notify the airline in advance, and usually there is a charge of between $80 and $100 for this service. Usually only one pet per passenger, and only two animals per flight are permitted. For peace of mind, having your prized cat or Yorkie within sight and close at hand is very attractive. Be prepared for security screeners to examine carefully your pet cargo. Remember, for all modes of pet travel, if the animal is clearly ill, aggressive, or otherwise a “problem child,” the air carrier reserves the right to refuse to transport your pet.

If Fido is too big to carry onboard, you may choose to have him fly in the baggage section of the plane. All domestic carriers have heated and pressurized baggage compartments on their planes. Clearly the fewer transfers in your itinerary, the better the chances are of you and your pet arriving at the same place at the same time. Your animal will have to be in an approved, hard-sided pet carrier. These are designed to provide maximum safety and ventilation and are also designed so as not to be placed next to a flat wall, thereby cutting off some air ventilation. A food and water bowl must be attached to the door. Ice is often used instead of water so the animal still has access but there is much less spillage. Feeding your animal within four hours of travel is discouraged. All carriers have strong policies stating that live animals in the cargo hold have a much higher value than your average Samsonite luggage.

Baggage handlers receive special training in handling this precious living cargo, although training is not always uniform throughout the industry. Outside pet carrier signage stating “live animal,” pet health information, and the identification of owner and contact information is mandated. Sometimes a small 8-ounce bag of dry dog food is taped to the outside of the crate for baggage handlers to feed your pet. No, live animals are not sent down and around on the luggage carousel. They are held separately for pick-up. Please note that tranquilizing animals for flight is not recommended under any circumstances. Expect to pay in the vicinity of $100 for this pets-as-checked-baggage service.

Many Americans are purchasing animals over the Internet, either from approved breeders or from rescue shelters. At Petfinder.com, thousands of shelter animals nationwide are available for adoption. Vacationers often ship their pets ahead to waiting family members. A veterinarian must sign a certificate of health within 10 days of flight for all traveling animals. Also, in colder months, an “acclimation certificate” is signed by the veterinarian certifying that the animal can tolerate low temperatures on the tarmac while being boarded or removed from the plane. In summer months many carriers refuse to transport any animals because of the high heat. Additionally, some breeds of dogs are denied air travel as air cargo at any time of the year because of their anatomy, usually shortened snouts, (pugs, shih tzus, and many others). These biological design characteristics clearly increase their risk of respiratory distress.

Not every carrier transports animals, and for those that do, there are differing policies about how many connecting flights are permitted. Some airlines only permit animals transported on direct flights; others permit transfers only at limited, specially equipped and staffed hubs within their networks. Costs for shipping pets are in the $150-250 range depending upon the weight and size of animal and the pet carrier.

We live in an imperfect world and air travel for pets is no exception. Some animals die in transport, some are injured, some escape. Two weeks ago, a valuable, prize-winning show dog, a whippet, escaped across the runway and into the marshes bordering JFK International Airport and has not yet been found. Sometimes crated animals are set aside by baggage handlers and forgotten, and miss their connecting flight. The airline industry is working diligently to improve their service and now publishes monthly statistics by carrier about animal deaths, injuries, and losses so the public can better make more informed choices.

If you are considering having your pet take a flight, check with your individual air carrier. Many have special pet programs and friendly staff to help you through this often complex process. The result can be a smooth and stress-free journey for you and your furry traveling companion.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded, nonprofit organization. For help, write to Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.