Claim for Animal Quarantine Fee

The question was raised as to whether an Army member may be reimbursed a fee paid to quarantine the family pet while the member was performing temporary duty in conjunction with a transfer. The member argued that, even though the animal quarantine fee would not be reimbursable if incurred at his new duty station, the fee should be reimbursable because it was incurred at his temporary duty station under orders which required his presence and authorized concurrent travel of his family. The member believed that he had no other choice but to take his pet with him to his temporary duty location and that the claimed fee should be paid by the Government. A service member is authorized to transport his household goods at Government expense in connection with his transfer. However, a family pet is specifically excluded from the definition of household goods. Further, the fact that the member was allowed accompanied travel to his new duty station does not permit payment of a fee incurred because the family pet was traveling with the family. Accordingly, the animal quarantine fee may not be reimbursed.