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Taking Fido or Fluffy On Vacation with You This Summer?
The HSUS Has Tips for Safe Travel with Pets
WASHINGTON – Planes,
trains, and automobiles. All are options for getting to your summer
vacation destination. But which is the best method of travel if
you are bringing your four-footed family member along? And should
you bring your animal companion or is he or she happier staying
at home?
The Humane Society
of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization,
has the information to help you make these decisions. Nancy Peterson,
HSUS companion animal issues specialist, says, “The first thing
you need to determine is whether your furry friend likes to travel.
Does he or she enjoy being in the car and seeing new people and
places? If these stress your pet, it may be kinder to leave him
in the care of a boarding kennel or professional pet sitter."
If you decide to take
your pet on vacation, start to plan your trip early. You will
need to research places that provide pets-welcome
accommodations. Motel 6, Red Roof Inns and Studio 6 properties
all accept pets. Next, determine if your pet will need a health
certificate, and schedule a pre-vacation veterinary exam. You
will want to make sure that you carry proof of a current rabies
vaccination.
The following are some
tips on traveling with your animal companion.
Traveling by Car:
• Always be sure that
your pet is safely restrained in the car. If he is accustomed
to one, your dog can be restrained with a pet safety harness that
functions like a seatbelt. Or you can use a well-ventilated, hard-sided
kennel. To ensure that they don’t distract the driver, cats should
always be kept in their carriers when traveling by car. All animals
are safer in the back seat.
• Don’t allow your canine companion to stick her head out the
window when the vehicle is moving. Doing so can subject your pet
to injury by flying debris. Never transport a pet in the back
of a pickup truck. Some states have laws restricting such transport
and it is always dangerous for your dog.
• Always provide frequent bathroom and exercise breaks. When outside
the car, make sure that your pet is always on a leash and wearing
a collar and ID tag.
• Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car. On warm days,
the temperature in your car can rise to 120 degrees in minutes,
even with the windows slightly open. Also, an animal left alone
in a car is an open invitation to pet thieves.
Traveling by Plane:
The HSUS recommends
that pets be transported by air only if absolutely necessary.
According to the Airline Transportation Association, an estimated
5,000 animals are killed, injured or lost during airline travel
each year. Most injuries and deaths to animals traveling by airplane
are due to extreme heat or cold, poorly ventilated cargo holds,
mishandling by baggage personnel, and damage to kennels.
If you must travel
by air with your pet, keep the following in mind:
• Take small animals
on board with you in carriers that fit under the seat. Contact
airlines for specific requirements, including type and size of
carrier, for taking your pet on board.
• Take direct flights to avoid mistakes and delays that occur
with transfers, and schedule flights early or late in the day
to avoid extreme heat.
• Notify the captain and at least one fight attendant that your
pet is traveling in the cargo hold. If the captain knows there
are pets on board, he or she may take special precautions.
• Fit your pet with a collar that can’t get caught in carrier
doors. Instead of a dangling tag, affix identification on the
collar and carrier with your name, address, and phone number,
as well as a temporary travel ID with the address and phone number
where you can be reached at your travel destination.
Traveling by Ship
or Train:
• Most cruise lines
don’t accept pets with the exception of assistance dogs. Contact
cruise lines in advance about their policies and kennel facilities.
If you must use the ship’s kennel, make sure it is protected from
the elements.
• Amtrak currently does not accept pets for transport unless they
are assistance dogs. There may be smaller U.S. rail companies
that permit animals on board their trains.
Many trains in Europe
allow pets. Many restaurants and tourist attractions do not allow
pets. If you’re not prepared to go the extra mile to accommodate
your pet during travel, he or she may be safer and happier at
home.
Then research the pet
sitting services and kennels in your area.
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