“The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be.” – Konrad Lorenz
Many of you are probably making holiday travel plans; going to Grandma's house, or, if you're lucky, planning a holiday vacation to Hawaii! So, what to do with your fur babies? Some of us are total suckers for a furry face, and can't bear to leave them at home. Although I have never taken a pet on holiday with me, I moved from Texas to California with 2 cats, so I have a little experience with this. Traveling with your dog or cat can be tricky, so let's look at some tips and “to do's” that might help:
If you are flying:
Flying with a small dog or cat (less than 20 pounds or so, depending on the airline), is really the easiest. Now, when I say easiest, this is relative! Obviously, my cats were less than 20 pounds, but the 20 pounds includes the carrier. Aaaahh, the carrier. See, at this size, your pet is considered carry-on luggage and has to fit under the seat in front of you. In order to do that, the airline has very specific dimensions for your pet carrier. Oh, and you can't “MacGuyver” and old box either. It has to be waterproof (wonder why?!) and ventilated, of course. Easier said than found. I recall vividly running all over town trying to find the right sized carriers for my 2 kitties! By the time I found them, I didn't even care (much) that they were $70 EACH! I have to say, they were pretty nice, though. The cats could stand or lay in them, and you could roll them or wear them like a backpack. My youngest daughter thought this was quite fun! And even though you are allowed 2 carry-ons, you still have to pay for the pet's fare. I believe ours was around $125 each, but this will depend on the airline, so do your research. Not all airlines allow pets, although many do. I almost forgot....we had to have a certificate of wellness for each cat, signed by our veterinarian. It was a bit of a pain to have to get that done, but now that we've flown back and forth from Texas, I'm glad this airline required it. Why, you might ask? Well, once after flying back to California after a visit to family in Texas, our flight was delayed for a couple of hours because a service dog got sick on an aircraft. I was stuck in an airport with my 2 kids while they tried to clean it. They eventually gave up and got us a new airplane. That first aircraft may be in the airplane graveyard now! Anyway, in case you're wondering, our cat traveling experience actually went smoothly. The carriers fit under the seat. One of my cats was quiet the entire time (the male, go figure!), and our other cat (our sweet girl) did meow a little bit. Fortunately, the purr of the airplane engine was louder than her!
If you are traveling with a dog larger than 20 pounds they go from carry-on to cargo, unless your dog is a service or emotional assistance dog (they can travel in the cabin). This is a whole other ball game. Of course, the airline will have dimension requirements for the crate, which you must provide. You'll need to make sure that your dog is acclimated to the crate before the trip. Put his favorite toy in there, and maybe a blanket that smells like you. One airline suggested that you put a bowl of frozen water in the crate, which is a great idea. There are lots of other guidelines for sending a dog in cargo, so check your airline's web site. The price estimate is around $200 per dog. Yikes! Sending a dog in cargo is lots of work and it's expensive. This could also be stressful for your dog. Probably best to do this only if you are moving.
If you are driving:
Traveling by car with a pet is obviously way cheaper than flying, and requires no vet records. Most cats HATE the car; all the moving parts and loud noises scare them. Cats don't like being out of control, and they hate being confined. I think it comes with their “I'm-the-boss” nature! That being said, never try to travel with a cat loose in your car. How do I know? I've done it. I mean, many, many moons ago, before I was old and wise I did it. Bad, bad idea. The cat was scared and crawling all over the floor, including near my feet when I was driving! That's just an accident waiting to happen. So, put up with the sometimes incessant meowing and put that cat in a carrier! YOU are the boss, not the cat!
Most dogs love the car....well, unless they associate it with the veterinarian, right? Tails Up Pet Care dogs associate the car with the park, and they race to get in! The Humane Society recommends also putting dogs in a carrier or crate while traveling. I think you can use your best judgment, because you know your dog. If your dog will look out the window, sit or lay quietly, and be calm, leaving them out of a crate is probably fine. The Humane Society also recommends against having your dog in the front seat, as they can become a distraction. I'm going to agree with them there. I like the back seat for pups as well. And just like you need to go to the bathroom and stretch your legs, so do your fur babies, so don't forget to do that every couple of hours. Most importantly during road trip breaks, make sure your dog is leashed and has an identification tag. The worst thing that could happen is that your dog runs off in an unknown area with no identification. If the weather is warm, don't leave your dog in the car without air conditioning. Period. Cars heat up faster than you can blink, and your dog will suffer for it. It's best to travel with a companion and take turns going into gas stations for bathroom and snacks.
So, there you have it. If you can't bear to be away from your fur baby, bring him with you. But if taking a vacation from home and from poop-scooping sounds great to you, then leave him with a pet sitter. I happen to know a bunch of awesome ones who will take excellent care of your furry family member (shameless Tails Up Pet Care plug intended)! Safe travels!
http://www.pettravel.com/airline_rules.cfm
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/traveling_tips_pets_ships_planes_trains.html?credit=ad_gg_search_pettips_011416&gclid=CjwKCAiAr_TQBRB5EiwAC_QCq-FwhA595-rp5EjQsesK1h9DwRrmhSGXuTNxdv4LLQR8cA-FPnCXnBoCxscQAvD_BwE
Many of you are probably making holiday travel plans; going to Grandma's house, or, if you're lucky, planning a holiday vacation to Hawaii! So, what to do with your fur babies? Some of us are total suckers for a furry face, and can't bear to leave them at home. Although I have never taken a pet on holiday with me, I moved from Texas to California with 2 cats, so I have a little experience with this. Traveling with your dog or cat can be tricky, so let's look at some tips and “to do's” that might help:
If you are flying:
Flying with a small dog or cat (less than 20 pounds or so, depending on the airline), is really the easiest. Now, when I say easiest, this is relative! Obviously, my cats were less than 20 pounds, but the 20 pounds includes the carrier. Aaaahh, the carrier. See, at this size, your pet is considered carry-on luggage and has to fit under the seat in front of you. In order to do that, the airline has very specific dimensions for your pet carrier. Oh, and you can't “MacGuyver” and old box either. It has to be waterproof (wonder why?!) and ventilated, of course. Easier said than found. I recall vividly running all over town trying to find the right sized carriers for my 2 kitties! By the time I found them, I didn't even care (much) that they were $70 EACH! I have to say, they were pretty nice, though. The cats could stand or lay in them, and you could roll them or wear them like a backpack. My youngest daughter thought this was quite fun! And even though you are allowed 2 carry-ons, you still have to pay for the pet's fare. I believe ours was around $125 each, but this will depend on the airline, so do your research. Not all airlines allow pets, although many do. I almost forgot....we had to have a certificate of wellness for each cat, signed by our veterinarian. It was a bit of a pain to have to get that done, but now that we've flown back and forth from Texas, I'm glad this airline required it. Why, you might ask? Well, once after flying back to California after a visit to family in Texas, our flight was delayed for a couple of hours because a service dog got sick on an aircraft. I was stuck in an airport with my 2 kids while they tried to clean it. They eventually gave up and got us a new airplane. That first aircraft may be in the airplane graveyard now! Anyway, in case you're wondering, our cat traveling experience actually went smoothly. The carriers fit under the seat. One of my cats was quiet the entire time (the male, go figure!), and our other cat (our sweet girl) did meow a little bit. Fortunately, the purr of the airplane engine was louder than her!
If you are traveling with a dog larger than 20 pounds they go from carry-on to cargo, unless your dog is a service or emotional assistance dog (they can travel in the cabin). This is a whole other ball game. Of course, the airline will have dimension requirements for the crate, which you must provide. You'll need to make sure that your dog is acclimated to the crate before the trip. Put his favorite toy in there, and maybe a blanket that smells like you. One airline suggested that you put a bowl of frozen water in the crate, which is a great idea. There are lots of other guidelines for sending a dog in cargo, so check your airline's web site. The price estimate is around $200 per dog. Yikes! Sending a dog in cargo is lots of work and it's expensive. This could also be stressful for your dog. Probably best to do this only if you are moving.
If you are driving:
Traveling by car with a pet is obviously way cheaper than flying, and requires no vet records. Most cats HATE the car; all the moving parts and loud noises scare them. Cats don't like being out of control, and they hate being confined. I think it comes with their “I'm-the-boss” nature! That being said, never try to travel with a cat loose in your car. How do I know? I've done it. I mean, many, many moons ago, before I was old and wise I did it. Bad, bad idea. The cat was scared and crawling all over the floor, including near my feet when I was driving! That's just an accident waiting to happen. So, put up with the sometimes incessant meowing and put that cat in a carrier! YOU are the boss, not the cat!
Most dogs love the car....well, unless they associate it with the veterinarian, right? Tails Up Pet Care dogs associate the car with the park, and they race to get in! The Humane Society recommends also putting dogs in a carrier or crate while traveling. I think you can use your best judgment, because you know your dog. If your dog will look out the window, sit or lay quietly, and be calm, leaving them out of a crate is probably fine. The Humane Society also recommends against having your dog in the front seat, as they can become a distraction. I'm going to agree with them there. I like the back seat for pups as well. And just like you need to go to the bathroom and stretch your legs, so do your fur babies, so don't forget to do that every couple of hours. Most importantly during road trip breaks, make sure your dog is leashed and has an identification tag. The worst thing that could happen is that your dog runs off in an unknown area with no identification. If the weather is warm, don't leave your dog in the car without air conditioning. Period. Cars heat up faster than you can blink, and your dog will suffer for it. It's best to travel with a companion and take turns going into gas stations for bathroom and snacks.
So, there you have it. If you can't bear to be away from your fur baby, bring him with you. But if taking a vacation from home and from poop-scooping sounds great to you, then leave him with a pet sitter. I happen to know a bunch of awesome ones who will take excellent care of your furry family member (shameless Tails Up Pet Care plug intended)! Safe travels!
http://www.pettravel.com/airline_rules.cfm
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/traveling_tips_pets_ships_planes_trains.html?credit=ad_gg_search_pettips_011416&gclid=CjwKCAiAr_TQBRB5EiwAC_QCq-FwhA595-rp5EjQsesK1h9DwRrmhSGXuTNxdv4LLQR8cA-FPnCXnBoCxscQAvD_BwE
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