Traveling With Pets

We have received so many kind words from comments on our previous post about living in rentals with pets. Of course we do think about you guys as well! Who doesn’t love animals, anyway right? Just to prove that we really do care about you and your furry, feathery, or scaly friends, here are tips on traveling with pets.

It’s not a walk in the park taking care of pets, everyone knows that. Some compare it to having children that never grow up and some even find it worse than that. Either way, we love that someone keeps us company and loves us unconditionally, right? That being said, we all love to be with our pets no matter what, even if we do have to travel. The concern is, how do you handle this overwhelming task? After all, traveling with a pet involves more than just loading the animal in the back seat and motoring off-especially if you will be driving long distances or plan to be away for a long time. Here we focus more on car travel.

Keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. There are a variety of these available in pets stores but whatever you choose, make sure it’s large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. To make sure that he or she is comfortable in it, have your pet try the carrier at home before leaving for your trip. The most important thing you can do is make sure your pet has been well exercised before he goes in the carrier. If he’s burned off his excess energy, he’ll be more inclined to rest.

Before you hit the road, make sure that you have everything you’ll need to keep your pet happy and healthy. Some examples of must-haves include food (of course!), water, bowls, blankets, waste disposal bags, and washcloths. In terms of water, go for bottled water or tap water stored in plastic jugs. Drinking water from an area that your pet is not used to could result in tummy upset for your pet.

It is highly recommended to bring along an identification tag that you can attach to a collar. Make sure though that your pet wears the collar every time! The tag should be imprinted with your home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant contact information. You don’t want your pet missing, right?

Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, a parked automobile can easily accumulate heat in no time, and your pet may have a heatstroke as a result. In cold weather, a car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death. Bring him along wherever you go, if possible.

Does the hotel you’re staying in allow pets? Better to find out before you leave. Pet-welcoming hotels will be prepared for your visit, and can even recommend parks, hikes, and other dog-friendly activities. Are you taking your dog on an airplane? Same thing – check first with the airline for their rules regarding pet travel. Many require a health certificate and may have other rules you haven’t thought of too.

With the proper equipment and with planning, there’s no reason to leave your best friend behind when you hit the road. Do tell us how your trip with your pet goes!