United has opened a new kennel facility at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to care for pets traveling with its PetSafe service. Housed within the airline’s cargo complex in Chicago, the kennel offers comfortable, secure accommodations and a range of services designed for animal welfare.
The facility includes 28 individual, temperature-controlled enclosures to ensure animals remain safe and comfortable in varying weather conditions. Trained caretakers provide regular walking sessions and can arrange grooming and bathing on request, offering attentive daily care tailored to each pet’s needs. To minimize transit stress, United also uses a fleet of dedicated PetSafe vans that transport animals to and from Chicago flights quickly and securely.
“We have an industry-leading pet travel program and this new kennel facility allows us to further extend our best-in-class service to the animals traveling through Chicago,” said Robbie Anderson, United’s vice president of cargo. The kennel reinforces the airline’s commitment to pet safety and customer peace of mind, whether passengers are checking their animals as cargo or traveling with them in the cabin.
The Chicago location is United’s third kennel supporting the PetSafe program, joining similar facilities at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Each site follows consistent standards for animal care and handling to maintain high-quality service across the network.
By combining climate-controlled enclosures, trained caretakers, on-demand grooming, and dedicated transport vans, United’s PetSafe kennel in Chicago aims to reduce stress for animals and offer convenient support for pet owners during travel. The new facility underscores the carrier’s ongoing investment in specialized services that prioritize the health and comfort of traveling pets.