Pet Express

What Pet Express does

Pet Express (legal entity: Pet Express Animal Transport) is a family-owned international pet transportation company founded in 1978 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, near LAX. The company specializes in end-to-end pet relocation services for dogs, cats, and other small animals, primarily for individual pet owners, expatriates, corporate transferees, and military personnel relocating internationally. Its service portfolio covers documentation management, veterinary compliance (including USDA and country-specific protocols), customs clearance, quarantine booking, airline coordination, and door-to-door pickup and delivery across destinations including Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific, and Hawaii. The company holds membership in the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and operates with IATA Live Animals Regulation-compliant travel crates (BB75, PP90, PP100).

The company's core operational technology centers on compliance-grade logistics infrastructure rather than software platforms. Key technical components include airline-approved hard plastic crates with dual-spring locking systems and ventilation, climate-controlled transit/boarding suites at its LAX-area pet hotel, and an online Crate Size Calculator that helps customers self-select compliant equipment. Distribution is built around a consultative, sales-led motion: customers initiate contact via website quote form, toll-free phone (866-738-6683), or email, and dedicated pet travel consultants design customized relocation plans. The company supplements this with an e-commerce storefront for direct crate sales and a content marketing engine (blog, FAQs, scam warnings, destination guides) that drives organic search traffic.

Pet Express generates revenue through three primary streams: professional services fees for international pet relocation (priced via custom quote based on destination, pet size, documentation complexity, and service level), pet hotel and boarding services at its Los Angeles facility, and hardware sales of IATA-compliant travel crates. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by job complexity. The company maintains a 4.9 Google rating across more than 350 customer reviews and is privately held with no disclosed external investors or funding rounds.

Name

Pet Express

Legal name

Pet Express Animal Transport

Website

https://pet-express.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pet Express is a family-owned international pet transportation company founded in 1978 in Los Angeles that provides end-to-end pet relocation services, primarily dogs and cats, for individual owners, expatriates, and military families relocating globally, supplemented by LAX pet boarding and crate sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Transportation Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4921)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Pet International Relocation & Quarantine Handling (HSAKACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pet Relocation & Moving Transport (HSANAIAH), Airport & Travel Pet Transfers (HSANAIAE), Interstate/Regulated Pet Transport (Health Certs/Compliance) (HSANAIAG), Special Needs/Senior/Medical Transport (Assisted Handling) (HSANAIAK), Pet Errands & Pet Care Coordination (HSACAIAJ)

Keywords

• International pet shipping
• Pet relocation services
• Animal transport logistics
• Airline-approved pet crates
• Pet boarding services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. International Pet Transport Services: Full-service international pet relocation including documentation management, customs clearance, quarantine booking, airline coordination, door-to-door pickup and delivery. Revenue generated through service fees based on destination, pet size, and service complexity.
2. Pet Hotel & Boarding (Los Angeles): Overnight and extended pet boarding services at Los Angeles facility near LAX, featuring climate-controlled suites, supervised play, spa treatments, medication administration, and daily photo updates.
3. Pet Travel Crate Sales: Sale of airline-approved travel crates (BB75, PP90, PP100) meeting IATA Live Animals Regulations. Crates sold with accessories including raised floors, funnels, water bowls, and security bars.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pet Express provides end-to-end international and domestic pet transportation services for dogs, cats, and other companion animals, handling documentation, veterinary compliance, customs clearance, airline coordination, and door-to-door pickup and delivery. The company also operates a Los Angeles pet hotel/boarding facility near LAX for layovers and vacation boarding, and sells IATA Live Animals Regulation-compliant airline-approved pet travel crates (BB75, PP90, PP100) direct to consumers via an online storefront.

Product overview

Pet Express is a family-owned international pet transportation company operating since 1978, offering a comprehensive suite of pet relocation services. The core offering is International Pet Shipping Services, which encompasses dog and cat transport specialized for global relocations. Supporting this are pet travel crates (BB75, PP90, PP100) sold directly for airline-compliant transport, a Crate Size Calculator tool, Pet Hotel & Boarding in Los Angeles for layovers or vacations, and door-to-door delivery with comfort stops. The company operates through a global partner network and manages the full logistics chain including documentation, customs, and quarantine compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Pet Shipping Services Full-service international pet relocation handling documentation, veterinary compliance, airline coordination, customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery for dogs, cats, and other companion animals traveling globally.
• Dog Transport Services Specialized dog relocation services including breed-restricted travel handling, snub-nosed breed management, and customized travel itineraries for dogs of all sizes, both internationally and domestically.
• Cat Transport Services Professional cat relocation services handling feline-specific travel requirements, multiple-cat arrangements, and cat-friendly travel logistics across international and domestic routes.
• Pet Hotel & Boarding (Los Angeles) Overnight and extended pet boarding at the Los Angeles facility near LAX, featuring climate-controlled suites, supervised play, spa treatments, medication administration, and daily photo updates for dogs, cats, and guinea pigs.
• BB75 Pet Travel Crate Airline-approved hard plastic crate (32x46x26 inches) designed for medium-to-large dogs up to 35 lbs, featuring a dual-spring locking system, full ventilation, raised floor, funnel, and water bowl; IATA Live Animals Regulation compliant.
• PP90 Pet Travel Crate Heavy-duty airline-approved crate (33x52x31 inches) designed for larger breeds such as Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds, with extra clearance for aircraft with narrow cargo doors; IATA Live Animals Regulation compliant.
• PP100 Pet Travel Crate Jumbo airline-approved crate (39x52x31 inches) suitable for extra-large breeds up to 165 lbs including Great Danes and Bullmastiffs, featuring hardened plastic structure and easy-carry handle; IATA Live Animals Regulation compliant.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.9/5 Google rating based on 350+ reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Canine Companions for IndependencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as a caring partner organization. Pet Express chooses to work only with partners who share their commitment to animal welfare, and Canine Companions for Independence is one such partner that meets their high standards of care and support.
• IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of IPATA, the leading global trade association for the pet transport industry. Membership indicates adherence to industry standards and best practices.
• IATA (International Air Transport Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationMember operating to IATA Live Animals Regulations standards. Ensures all pet travel crates and procedures comply with international airline requirements for safe animal transport.
• Global Partner NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry-leading network of trusted global partners enabling worldwide pet shipping capability. Includes partner agents at every US airport and some overseas locations for end-to-end service delivery.
• Airline Partners (KLM, American Airlines, British Airways, QANTAS, Lufthansa)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnerships with major international airlines enabling pet transport to destinations worldwide. Airlines have specific policies on pet transport including breed restrictions and temperature limitations. Pet Express arranges customized travel programs with these carriers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PetRelocation: PetRelocation is a direct competitor offering door-to-door international pet shipping services with similar destination coverage (Australia, NZ, Europe). Both firms coordinate documentation, customs, quarantine booking, and airline logistics for relocating pets.
• Happy Tails Travel: Happy Tails Travel provides international pet transport services including airline coordination, documentation, and ground transport for dogs and cats. Direct competitor with overlapping service model and consultative sales approach.
• Starwood Animal Transport: Starwood Animal Transport offers global pet relocation services including airline bookings, customs paperwork, and door-to-door delivery. Comparable international focus with similar consultative service model.
• Animal Transport Worldwide: Animal Transport Worldwide is an IPATA-member pet transport company offering international and domestic animal shipping services. Direct competitor with similar regulatory expertise and global partner network.
• Pets2Fly: Pets2Fly offers pet transport coordination and consultation services for international and domestic relocations. Comparable in scope and consultative service model, focused on shipping logistics and regulatory paperwork.
• Royal Paws: Royal Paws provides international pet shipping services including flight booking, crate provision, and destination handling. Direct competitor with similar end-to-end international service offering.

Others

• IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association): IPATA is the leading global trade association for pet transport companies. Not a competitor but rather an industry body whose member directory drives referrals and represents the broader competitive set Pet Express operates within.
• Kennel Club of America (Relocation Resources): The American Kennel Club provides pet travel resources and guidance for owners relocating with dogs, functioning as an indirect ecosystem player that influences customer expectations and routes some demand to specialist transport services like Pet Express.
• USDA APHIS Pet Travel Service: USDA APHIS is the US government authority that issues health certificates required for international pet export. As a regulatory gatekeeper rather than a competitor, APHIS's processes directly shape Pet Express's documentation workflow and customer value proposition.

Emerging players

• Pet Airways: Pet Airways is an emerging/niche player that has explored dedicated pet-only air transport services. It represents a potential alternative delivery model that could reshape the market, with limited current overlap but strategic relevance to Pet Express's airline-dependent model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/petexpress
• Instagraminstagram.com/pet_express_us
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pet-express-animal-transport

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pet Express