Pet Transportation Entitlement Final Decision

1.  Situation.  Reference (a) provided a recap of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 NDAA, Section 624 which covers travel and transportation allowances, to authorize service Secretaries to reimburse service members for costs associated with pet relocation.  Further, reference (a) informed Marines relocating to a new Permanent Duty Station (PDS) to not expect final implementation of the new pet transportation entitlement until at least 1 January 2024.  Promulgation of this information allowed Marines and their families to properly plan for their upcoming PCS and the costs associated with moving their pets during this peak moving season without anticipating any financial relief provided by the new entitlement.<br>
2.  Purpose.  Publish the final decision by the Director, Defense Human Resources Activity, as the Chair of the PDTATAC regarding the pet relocation entitlement and its associated allowances based on CONUS and OCONUS PCS relocations.  Note this entitlement will not be retroactive to the effective date of the FY 2023 NDAA or any other date prior to 1 January 2024.<br>
3.  Decision.  The Joint Travel Regulations dated 12 July 2023 have been updated to include the following paragraph to implement the new pet reimbursement entitlement and allowances effective on 1 January 2024 starting with paragraph 050107-E as quoted:<br>
QUOTE.<br>
050107.  Pet Expenses Due to a PCS<br>
A.  Eligibility.  A Service member on a PCS order is authorized reimbursement for mandatory quarantine fees for household pets.  A household pet is a cat or a dog.<br>
B.  Allowances.  Reimbursement for the actual cost of these fees is authorized, limited to $550 per PCS move.<br>
C.  Pet Quarantine Information.  See Pet Quarantine Information and the DTMO website for more details.<br>
D.  Pet Transportation.  Transportation for a household pet is not a reimbursable expense unless the transportation is due to an evacuation from a foreign PDS in accordance with par. 060204.<br>
E.  On 1 January 2024, the following pet transportation allowances will apply:<br>
1.  Eligibility.  A Service member on a PCS order may be authorized reimbursement for the costs related to the relocation of one household pet that arises from a permanent change of station.  A household pet is a cat or a dog, owned for personal companionship.  A Service member is responsible for following rules for importing and exporting a pet to and from the United States in order to be eligible for reimbursement.  Denial of entry could result in denial of reimbursement.<br>
2.  CONUS.  A Service member may be authorized the reasonable and substantiated cost of mandatory microchipping, boarding fees, hotel service charges, licensing fees at the new PDS, and pet shipping fees if the member flies rather than drives, or the pet is shipped separately from the member.  Reimbursement for the actual cost of all expenses is limited to $550 per PCS move.<br>
3.  OCONUS.  A Service member may be authorized the reasonable and substantiated cost of mandatory microchipping, quarantine fees, boarding fees, hotel service charges, licensing fees at the new PDS, testing titer levels for entry, and pet shipping fees if the member flies rather than drives, or the pet is shipped separately from the member.  For transoceanic travel, use of Government or Government-procured transportation must be used if available or reimbursement for transportation costs is not authorized.  Reimbursement for the actual cost of all necessary expenses described above in connection with the movement of a pet is limited to $2,000 per PCS move.<br>
UNQUOTE.<br>
4.  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).  Additional questions regarding this entitlement can be directed to HQMC (LPD-2) Personal Property and Passenger Transportation at usmcpassengertravel@usmc.mil.<br>
4.a.  Question:  If a member starts their PCS in CY 23 and checks in to their new Permanent Duty Station (PDS) after 1 January 2024, can they be reimbursed for pet expenses?<br>
4.a.1.  Answer:  No, payment of the pet relocation allowance is based on the detachment date from the current PDS location.<br>
4.b.  Question:  Does the detachment date from the previous command need to have occurred on or after 1 January 2024?<br>
4.b.1.  Answer:  Yes, the detachment date must have occurred on or after 1 Jan 2024.<br>
4.c.  Question:  Do the expenses themselves need to be incurred after 1 January 2024, regardless of when the PCS started?<br>
4.c.1.  Answer:  If the Service member departs the PDS on a PCS order on or after 1 January 2024, then any expenses incurred prior to detachment are reimbursable.  For example, if traveling to Japan there are many requirements that the Service member must accomplish to prepare for the transportation to the overseas location.  The only determining factor for eligibility for the pet relocation allowance is that the Service member detaches from the current PDS on or after 1 January 2024 and the expense is related to that PCS move.<br>
4.d.  Question:  Will Dual Military Spouse families be allowed to ship one pet per PCS order?<br>
4.d.1.  Answer:  Yes.  Each member of a dual-military couple who is issued PCS Orders that authorize the relocation of their household at government expense, may be authorized reimbursement of pet expenses for one pet per each member who is issued such orders.  Authorization may depend on specific circumstances, therefore Marines with questions are encouraged to address their questions to their supporting finance, administrative, or Distribution Management Office's Passenger Travel Office.<br>
4.e.  What is the maximum reimbursable amount for pet transportation during a PCS Move when the Marine detaches from the current command on or after 1 Jan 2024?<br>
4.e.1.  For CONUS PCS Moves with a detachment date of 1 Jan 2024 or later, the maximum reimbursable amount is $550.<br>
4.e.2.  For OCONUS PCS Moves with a detachment date of 1 Jan 2024 or later, the maximum reimbursable amount is $2,000.<br>
5.  Release authorized by BGen Forrest C. Poole III, Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (LP).