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Your pet’s safe trip to or from
Italy starts here

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W e ' r e   D i f f e r e n t

Pets, not packages - expect more

We’re proud to be the highest rated and most trusted international pet shipping company in the United States.
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Decades of experience

Trust our expert team of coordinators, with the most collective industry experience (and all the 5-star reviews to prove it!).
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Technology

Industry-leading Pet Travel Portal to make things simple & clear.
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Pet Protection Plan

Coverage for every dog or cat ensuring your peace of mind throughout their journey.
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Stay in touch

 The only US-based company to partner with CareTags Travel Sense to provide automated updates throughout your pet’s move via email & text. 
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S t a r w o o d   F a c t o r

What sets us apart

Read stories traveling to and from italy Italy

Testimonials

26 days ago

Great experience moving my 2 kitties from Seattle to Northern Italy! Cassidy was very helpful and responsive and the whole process was a breeze.

Peyton Endsley
✈️ United StatesItaly
🐱 Gnocchi & Margherita
Gnocchi & Margherita's pet

145 days ago

We are a navy family and had to ship our senior dog, Lilly, to Naples, Italy. I was very nervous because she is an anxious pup to begin with, plus her age, and she had never flown before. Not to menti...

Allison Keilman
✈️ United StatesItaly
🐶 Lily's Trip to Italy
Lily's Trip to Italy's pet

245 days ago

We hired Starwood to get our 45lb Pitbull mix from Atlanta, USA to Rome, Italy and they were amazing. Our rep, Sarah Whittington, answered my millions of questions and concerns with quick responses, c...

Paige Abitz
✈️ United StatesItaly
🐶 Presley's Trip to Rome
Presley's Trip to Rome's pet

246 days ago

A++ service and communication from start to finish. We transported our labrador retriever from Boston, MA to Milan, Italy door to door and everything went as smooth as one could ask for, and we always...

Jim Asprinio
✈️ United StatesItaly
🐶 Nara's Trip to Milan
Nara's Trip to Milan's pet

291 days ago

Starwood pet made what could have been a very stressful experience extremely seamless. They handled all the details of the paperwork, vet visits, kennels and pickup and got our two fluffy family membe...

Daniel Berlind
✈️ United StatesItaly
🐶 Fia and Hendrix Trip to Italy
Fia and Hendrix Trip to Italy's pet

352 days ago

Working with Starwood and more specifically Ms. Rosemary Cann has been such a pleasure. As a military family PCSing overseas, they took a huge burden off our shoulders when it came to figuring out how...

Cyrenity Menesses
✈️ United StatesItaly
🐶 Wellington & Keeva to Milan Italy
Wellington & Keeva to Milan Italy's pet

353 days ago

Rosie and the team took great care of me and my two cats for a complicated move to Italy. Great service.

✈️ United StatesItaly
🐶 Scully & Mulder to Rome
Scully & Mulder to Rome's pet

444 days ago

I had an outstanding experience with Ryan, Lenny, and Paul from Starwood Pet Travel for overseas pet transportation! From start to finish, their team handled every detail with professionalism, care, a...

✈️ United StatesItaly
🐶 Rycie, Bruno, and Sky
Rycie, Bruno, and Sky's pet

Stories

Fia and Hendrix Trip to Italy

✈️ LAX-FRA-FCO

From the bright lights of Hollywood to the sun-drenched hills of Italy, Fia and Hendrix recently embarked on a journey worthy of the big screen. Fia, a spirited Belgian Shepherd puppy with boundless e...

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Fia and Hendrix's pet

Moving to Italy

 Whether you’re strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence, relaxing along the Amalfi Coast, or enjoying a café in Rome, Italy is a beautiful place to share with your pet. The country is not only rich in culture and scenery but also pet-friendly—with plenty of parks, piazzas, and patios welcoming furry companions.

But before your pet can say “ciao,” you’ll need to prepare the right documentation for a smooth and stress-free entry into Italy. Here’s everything you need to know. 

For more detailed information on life in Italy with your pet, please refer to our comprehensive Italy Country Guide.

Moving from Italy

Pet Travel from Italy to the USA

Whether you’re flying your pet to the United States after a brief stay or a whole lifetime in another country, there are a number of hoops to jump through. Getting all of the details right can be confusing and time-consuming, and improper planning or documentation could delay your pet’s entry into the country. Let us handle all the details for you!

P r i c i n g

Starting cost for moving your pet to Italy

Pet Transport Cost Estimator

Number of pets Starting cost*
1 $3,595
2 $4,395
3 $5,595
4 $6,395
5 $7,795
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F A Q

Questions,
answered

Is pet travel safe?

Yes, pet travel is safe with the proper preparation and precautions. Thousands of pets fly every year without issue. You can read more about pet travel safety here.

Should I sedate my pet?

NO. It is not recommended to sedate or tranquilize any pet that is flying on an airplane. This can negatively affect their breathing and respiration when they are up in the air at high altitudes. This can be even more dangerous for pets with pre-existing conditions or snub-nosed (brachycephalic) pets. Starwood will NOT transport any pet that has been sedated or tranquilized. Additionally, if the airline believes that your pet has been sedated, then they can refuse your pet for travel. You can learn more about sedation and air travel in our blog post.

Where do pets travel on the plane?

Starwood only transports pets who are traveling as manifest cargo. This means that they travel on commercial flights underneath the passenger cabin in a space that is temperature controlled, pressurized, and oxygenated. Live animals travel beneath the pilot and the pilot must sign off on a manifest so they are aware of any pets onboard. Your pet’s travel kennel will be held into place by a thin netting that acts like a seatbelt to keep them safe and secure during takeoff and landing. Learn more about where pets travel on a plane.

Will my pet eat or drink?

You should definitely ensure your pet is provided plenty of water prior to and on the day of their big adventure. Our team will also make sure that their water bowls are topped off once we check them in for the flight. Once pets are in the care of the airline after check-in, the airline staff will be sure to top off water as well. However, it is NOT recommended for pets to eat right before takeoff or during the flight. This can cause an upset stomach, which we of course want to avoid. Our team will not provide food for the flight and we do not recommend feeding them less than 4 hours prior to flight departure. If your pet has a layover, they will be provided more water and some food (depending on the length of the layover). Water will also be provided once they have landed as they are clearing through customs. If your pet will be boarding or spending time in quarantine throughout their trip, they will be provided food and water regularly. You can read more about whether you should feed pets who are flying in our blog.

How will my pet go to the bathroom?

If you have a dog that is traveling, our team will provide them with a nice walk and potty break prior to check-in at the airport. Once your pet is checked in, they must remain inside their travel kennel until they arrive at the destination. We do not let cats out of the travel kennel after we pick them up since you know they can be sneaky escape artists. Upon arrival to the destination, dogs will be provided with a walk and potty break before they head home to you. Again, cats will need to remain inside their travel kennels unless there is a safe and secure room to let them out. Litter boxes are not permitted to be inside the travel kennel so please be aware that sometimes your pet may go to the bathroom inside the kennel. As they say, if you gotta go, you gotta go. If your pet has soiled their travel kennel and there is a safe place to let them out of the kennel then we do try our best to clean the kennel when possible prior to delivery. Learn more here.

We partner with the best in the industry:

qantas qatar american-airlines lufthansa air new zeland british airways klm