When planning travel plans for your pet, consider what is safest and most pleasant for him or her. For example, unless you’ll be able to spend a lot of time with your dog, they’ll be happy staying home rather than with you on your vacation. Cats are usually always happier in their own environment.
However, if you have determined that bringing your pet is the best option, follow this advice for a safe and stress-free journey.
Traveling by automobile
Do you know where you should put your dog or cat in your car?
Dogs should not be allowed to roam the automobile.
The safest method for your dog to ride in the car is in a cage. And the cage should be securely fastened to the vehicle using a seat belt or other secure means. Dog restraints or seat belts are excellent for keeping your dog from wandering around the car and distracting the driver. But they haven’t been demonstrated to effectively protect dogs in an accident.
Cats should be transported in carriers.
Most cats aren’t comfortable driving in automobiles, so put them in a carrier for their own and your own protection. It’s crucial to keep these carriers restrained in the automobile, so they don’t bounce around in injuring your cat. Use the seat belt around the front of the carrier or its handle to do this.
Allow humanity to take the front seat.
Keep your pet in the car’s rear seat. In case of a car accident and if an airbag deploys, he or she may be injured.
Keep their heads on the inside!
Dogs and cats must be inside the vehicle. Pets who are permitted to thrust their heads out the window may be hurt by debris or become ill when cold air is blasted into their lungs. In addition, the pet should never be transported in the back of an open pickup truck.
Allow lots of rest stops for your pet.
Stopping periodically to enable your pet to exercise and excrete is a good idea. However, never let your pet leave the car without a collar, I.D. tag, and leash.
Bring a human companion.
Share driving and pet care responsibilities with a friend or family member whenever feasible. You’ll be able to buy food or use the restrooms at rest breaks while knowing that someone you trust is staying with your dogs.
Your pet should never be alone in a vehicle.
A fast pit break may seem little to you, but it is far too long to leave your pet alone in a car. Heat is a severe hazard: if it’s 72 degrees outdoors, the temperature inside your automobile may quickly rise to 116 degrees. On an 85-degree day, with the windows partially opened, the temperature inside your automobile may reach 102 degrees in only 10 minutes. Even if you’re confident in your time, you may be delayed – in only 30 minutes, and you could be back in a 120-degree automobile with permanent organ damage or death.
If you observe a pet left inside a hot car, do the following actions to assist them.
Print our Hot Car flier (PDF), display it in public locations, and share it with all pet owners you know about the hazards of leaving dogs or cats in a hot car.
The hidden invitation you provide to pet (and automobile) thieves every time you leave your pet alone in a car is a year-round hazard.
Using an airplane
You should consider all of your alternatives before booking a flight for your dog.
Pets should avoid flying whenever possible.
When determining whether to fly your pet, we urge that you consider all of the dangers. Air travel can be especially hazardous for animals with “pushed in” faces, such as bulldogs, pugs, and Persian cats. They are especially sensitive to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke because they have narrow nasal passages.
Consider all of your options before traveling. Driving might be a preferable alternative if you intend to bring your pet on vacation. If you are unable to travel by automobile, your pet will most likely be healthier and happier if you leave them in the hands of a pet sitter or boarding kennel. However, there will be situations when this is not feasible, and you must decide if the benefits of flying exceed the hazards.
If you decide to get on a plane with your pet, try to book a seat in the cabin whenever feasible.
If flying your pet is your only other way to travel, find out if they may travel in the cabin with you. Most airlines will let your cat or small dog fly with you in the cabin for an extra cost. Just make sure you contact the airline in advance since there are restrictions on the number of animals permitted in the cabin. If you’re moving your dog, make sure they’re the good and ideal size. If the rules are too much for you to handle, there are companies out there that can help you in navigating the procedure of traveling with a pet.
If your pet is permitted to fly with you in the cabin, call the airline to make sure you get clear answers to the following questions:
- Will the airline enable you to travel with your cat or small dog in the cabin?
- Are there any specific pet health or vaccination requirements?
- Is the airline looking for a certain sort of carrier? Most airlines will accept either hard-sided or soft-sided carriers (the latter of which may be more pleasant for your pet), but only specific types of soft-sided carriers are suitable for particular airlines.
- Is there any limit on bringing your pet in the cargo hold if you can’t bring it in the cabin?
When carrying your pet through airport security, take measures.
Your pet’s carrier must go through the security check with you. You have two choices: make sure your pet is properly tethered so you can safely keep them outside their carrier while it is being x-rayed, or request a special secondary screening that will not need you to remove them from their carrier.
Be aware of the risks of transporting your pet in a cargo hold.
While most animals flying in airline cargo are healthy, you should be aware that some animals are killed, maimed, or lost on commercial flights each year. Extremely hot or cold conditions, inadequate ventilation, and hard handling are frequently at fault.
Most U.S. airlines are obliged to report any companion animal accidents that occur in the cargo hold, and consumers should research any airline’s performance record before flying their pet in the cargo hold.
If your pet has traveled in the cargo, follow these guidelines so you may improve your pet’s chances of a safe voyage by following these suggestions.
- Utilize direct flights. You will prevent errors made during airline transfers as well as potential delays in getting your pet off the plane.
- When possible, travel with your pet on the same aircraft. Inquire with the airline if you can observe your pet being loaded and unpacked from the cargo hold.
- Notify the airline staff that your pet will be flying in the cargo hold before you board the plane. If the captain is aware that there are pets on board, he or she may take extra measures.
Allow at least a month before your journey for your pet to grow acquainted with the travel carrier. This will reduce their anxiety when traveling.
Brachycephalic pets, such as Pekingese dogs, bulldogs, or Persian cats, should never be shipped in cargo holds.
- Choose flights that will handle temperature variations if you are going during the summer or winter months. In the summer season, early morning or late evening flights are preferable; in the winter, afternoon flights are preferable.
- Avoid flying with your pet during peak travel seasons, such as vacations and the summer. During stressful travel seasons, your pet is more likely to be mishandled.
- Make sure your pet has a collar that will not become entangled in the carrier doors. Always attach two pieces of identification to the collar: one permanent ID with your name, home address, and phone number, and one temporary travel ID with the address and phone number where you or secondary contact person can be reached.
- Make sure your pet’s nails are cut to prevent them from becoming entangled in the carrier’s door, holes, and other crevices.
- Allow at least a month before your journey for your pet to grow acquainted with the travel carrier. This will reduce their anxiety when traveling.
- Do not give your pet sedatives unless your veterinarian has recommended them. Ascertain that your veterinarian is aware that the medication is for plane travel.
- Feed your pet no more than four to six hours before the journey. You can, however, offer them modest quantities of water. Put ice cubes in the water dish attached to the inside of your pet’s box or kennel if feasible. (A full water dish will just spill and make you uncomfortable.)
Take a recent photograph of your pet with you.
If your pet becomes separated from you during the flight, a photograph will make it much easier for airline personnel to search successfully.
Speak out if you observe something suspicious.
If you see someone mistreat an animal—yours or someone else’s—at any airport, don’t be afraid to speak out. Notify the manager of the area where the event happened, and report mismanagement both verbally and in writing.
Via Ship
Pets are welcome aboard just a few cruise lines, with the exception of assistance dogs, and typically only on ocean trips. Some cruise lines allow pets in individual staterooms, although the majority restrict pets to kennels. Contact your cruise company ahead of time to learn about their regulations and whether ships have kennel facilities available for your pets. If you must use the ship’s kennel, you need to make sure it is weatherproof and that you check on your pet periodically.
By train
Amtrak currently permits some pets on select trains, and service animals are permitted on all routes. The HSUS supports the Pets on Trains Act (H.R. 674), which would enable Amtrak travelers to bring their cherished pets on certain trains on board. Many small train companies in the United States may allow animals on board. Pets are permitted on several trains throughout Europe. Generally, it is the obligation of the passengers to feed and exercise their dogs at station stops.
Words from Bone2travel
Remember that your pets enjoy being with you, so taking them on a short excursion to the beach may be the ideal option for your Fido. However, if you must transport them wherever you are going, keep in mind that you are carrying a particular cargo. Because they are moved out of their regular environment, they may become twitchy and nervous.