(1) Carriers and intermediate handlers shall not accept any animal presented by any person for shipment more than four hours prior to the scheduled departure of the primary conveyance on which it is to be transported.

(2) Carriers or intermediate handlers shall accept wild animals for transportation only if the transport cages are constructed in accordance with the provisions of subsection 671.4 (e)(1) below.

(3) Carriers or intermediate handlers whose facilities fail to meet the minimum temperature allowed by these regulations may not accept for transportation any live animal consigned by any person unless the consignor furnishes to the carrier or intermediate handler a certificate executed by a licensed veterinarian on a date which shall not be more than 10 days prior to delivery of such animal for transportation, stating that such live animal is acclimated to air temperatures lower than 7.2° C. (45° F.). A copy of such certificate shall accompany the shipment to its destination. The certificate shall include at least the following information: Name and address of the consignor; the number of animals in the shipment; a certifying statement (e.g., “I hereby certify that the animal(s) in this shipment is (are), to the best of my knowledge, acclimated to air temperatures lower than 7.2° C (45° F)”; and the signature of the accredited veterinarian, assigned accreditation number, and date.

(4) Carriers and handlers shall not commingle animal shipments with inanimate cargo. All animal holding areas of any carrier, handler, or any mode of conveyance shall be cleaned and sanitized often enough to prevent an accumulation of debris or excreta, to minimize vermin infestation and to prevent a disease hazard. An effective program shall be provided and maintained by the owner or operator of the holding facility for the control of insects, ectoparasites, and avian and mammalian pests for all animal holding areas. All animal-holding areas containing live animals shall be provided with fresh air by means of windows, doors, vents or an air conditioning system to minimize odors and moisture condensation. Auxiliary ventilation, such as exhaust fans and vents or fans or blowers or air conditioning shall be used for any animal-holding area containing live animals when the air temperature within such animal-holding area is not compatible with the health and comfort of the animal. The temperature shall be regulated to protect the animals from temperature extremes. Animals shall not be placed in a direct draft.

(5) Carriers and intermediate handlers shall attempt to notify the consignee at least once every two hours following the arrival of any live animals at the animal holding area of the terminal cargo facility. The time, date and method of each attempted notification and the final notification to the consignee and the name of the person notifying the consignee shall be recorded on the copy of the shipping document retained by the carrier or intermediate handler and on a copy of the shipping document accompanying the animal shipment.

(1) The cargo space of any conveyance used to transport live animals shall be designed and constructed to protect the health, and ensure the safety and comfort of the live animals contained therein at all times.

(2) The animal space shall be constructed and maintained to prevent the ingress of direct engine exhaust fumes and gases from the conveyance.

(3) No live animal shall be placed in any cargo space that does not have sufficient air for normal breathing for each animal contained therein, and the transport cages shall be positioned in the animal cargo space so that each animal has sufficient air for normal breathing.

(4) Transport cages shall be positioned in the conveyance so that the animals can be quickly removed in an emergency.

(5) The interior of the animal cargo space shall be kept clean and sanitary.

(6) Live animals shall not be transported with any material, substance, (e.g., dry ice) or device which may be injurious to their health and well-being unless proper precaution is taken to prevent such injury.

(1) Carriers and handlers shall move live animals from animal holding areas to conveyances and from the conveyances to animal holding areas as expeditiously as possible. Carriers and handlers holding live animals in an animal holding area or transporting live animals from the animal holding area to the primary conveyance and from the primary conveyance to the animal holding area, including loading and unloading procedures, shall provide the following:

(2) The transport cage shall not be handled in a manner that may cause physical or emotional trauma to the animal contained therein. Transport cages with animals inside shall not be tossed, dropped, or needlessly tilted and shall not be stacked in a manner which may reasonably be expected to result in their falling.

(1) Cages used to transport live animals shall be constructed in such a manner that:

(2) Animals transported in the same cage shall be of the same species and maintained in compatible groups. Animals that have not reached puberty shall not be transported in the same cage with adult animals other than their dams. Socially dependent animals (e.g., sibling, dam, and other members of a family group) shall be allowed visual and olfactory contact. Any female animal in season (estrus) shall not be transported in the same cage with any male animal.

(3) Transport cages shall be as set forth below. In the event, however, the provisions of 9 CFR, Sections 3.85-3.91, Sections 3.112-3.118 and Sections 3.136-3.142 are met, the requirements of this subsection shall be deemed satisfied.

Animals not used in performances or exercised regularly shall be placed in a space equal to ½ the minimum permanent space required for that species. Elephants accompanied by an attendant may be staked out in a roped off area which excludes the public.

(4) Transport cages shall have solid bottoms to prevent leakage in shipment and shall be cleaned and disinfected pursuant to subsections 671.2(a)(4) and (5). Transport cages shall contain clean litter of a suitable absorbent material, which is safe and nontoxic to the animals, in sufficient quantity to absorb and cover excrement.

(5) Transport cages consigned to carriers and intermediate handlers shall be clearly marked on top and on all sides with the words “Live Wild Animal” in letters not less than 1 inch in height, and with arrows or other markings to indicate the correct upright position of the container.

(6) Documents accompanying the shipment consigned to carriers and intermediate handlers shall be attached in an accessible location on the outside of one transport cage.

(1) To minimize the distress to animals during surface transportation, the driver shall visually inspect the animals at least once every 4 hours to assure that the animals are not in obvious physical distress and to provide for any needed veterinary care as soon as possible. When transported by air, animals shall be observed if the cargo space is accessible during flight. If the cargo space is not accessible during flight, the carrier shall visually observe the animals whenever the cargo space is accessible to assure that all applicable standards are being complied with and to determine whether any of the live animals are in obvious physical distress.

(2) Animals shall not be taken from their cage except under extreme emergency.

(3) Food and water requirements while in transit.