Arrival Support at DFW Pet Lounge

From customs clearance to safe transfer into our licensed, CDC-registered Animal Care Facility near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, we handle every step of your pet's arrival with care and compliance — whether your dog travels as manifested cargo, excess baggage, or in-cabin with you.

Smooth & Stress-Free Pet Arrivals

Our arrival support services are designed to make your dog's entry into the United States as seamless as possible. With direct coordination between CDC, USDA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and our facility staff, you can rest assured your pet is in safe hands from the moment they land at DFW International Airport. Because CDC import rules apply regardless of how your dog physically travels, our team is set up to handle both cargo collection and passenger-terminal transfers.

Customs & CDC Clearance

We coordinate directly with CDC and CBP officials to verify travel documents, vaccination records, and rabies certificates, and to confirm your dog's import track before release is authorized.

Safe Transport

For manifested cargo, our staff collect your pet from the airline's cargo warehouse. For in-cabin and excess baggage arrivals, our team meets you at Terminal D and coordinates the Post-Entry Air Waybill process before transfer to our licensed Animal Care Facility minutes from the airport.

Secure Intake

Our trained staff ensure a low-stress intake process, providing water, comfort checks, veterinary examination, and proper documentation logging before quarantine or compliance processing begins.

Two Ways Your Pet Can Arrive at DFW

How your dog is booked on the flight determines exactly how the transfer process works at DFW.

Manifested Cargo

Your dog travels in the aircraft hold as a cargo shipment, with an Air Waybill (AWB) issued at the start of the journey. No post-entry paperwork is needed — our team collects directly from the airline's DFW cargo warehouse once CBP processing is complete. Transfer can take several hours after landing.

In-Cabin or Excess Baggage (PETC)

Your dog travels with you on a passenger ticket. Since no AWB exists at origin, the airline must issue a Post-Entry Air Waybill at DFW before transfer — a process that takes approximately 2–3 hours and requires our team to meet you at Terminal D. See our In-Cabin & Excess Baggage Arrivals page for the full step-by-step process.

What to Expect on Arrival

  • Document Verification: CDC and USDA confirm paperwork, vaccination records, and health certificates against your reservation.
  • Pet Transfer: Cargo arrivals are collected directly from the airline's cargo warehouse. In-cabin and excess baggage arrivals are met at Terminal D while the airline issues a Post-Entry Air Waybill.
  • CBP Customs Clearance: Our customs broker coordinates clearance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, typically completed within a few hours of landing.
  • Health & Safety Check: Veterinary examination and basic wellness evaluation performed upon intake at our facility.
  • Facility Transport: Secure transport to our CDC-registered facility at 6148 Precinct Line Road, Hurst, TX — minutes from DFW Airport.
  • Owner Notification: You are updated as soon as your dog is safely checked in, and again once CDC compliance processing is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about arrival support at DFW Pet Lounge.

Yes. We support all three arrival types at DFW — manifested cargo, excess baggage, and in-cabin. In-cabin and excess baggage arrivals require an additional Post-Entry Air Waybill step, and our team meets you at Terminal D to coordinate this directly with the airline and CBP.

Cargo arrivals can typically be collected within a few hours of landing. In-cabin and excess baggage arrivals take approximately 2–3 hours due to the Post-Entry Air Waybill process. Timing can vary based on airline processing speed and CBP workload.

No. Dogs subject to CDC import requirements must pass through cargo-style customs clearance regardless of how they traveled, and cannot be released at baggage claim. For in-cabin and excess baggage arrivals, our team meets you at Terminal D and manages the transfer from there.

Yes — a confirmed reservation at our CDC-registered ACF is required before your dog travels, regardless of arrival type. See our reservation requirements page for the full checklist.
Arrange Arrival Support for Your Pet

Let our team handle the arrival process so you can focus on welcoming your pet home.