Do You Really Need to Travel with Your Pet?

Now, don't get me wrong, I love my cats. They are like family to me, and I feed them only the best food, etc. I'm not knocking pet owners in any way, however, this new trend of taking your pets everywhere with you, is a little foreign to me. Sure, I like to see other peoples' dogs at places like Petco. I thought that was a pretty cool idea, to have pet-friendly places. However, I don't believe I would like to see a dog sharing the airplane seat beside me or staying in the hotel room next to me. We have a new phenomenon among some people, and that is taking their pets everywhere.

In a recent article from U.S. News and World Report entitled "Have Pooch, Will Travel," this trend is further examined. Apparently the pet industry is the 2^nd fastest growing sector in the United States. Pets always could travel with people although the target market is changing. It used to me that low-end motels for people on vacation would take pets too or high-end luxury hotels might look the other way if celebrities brought their pets along. Now, pet-friendly lodging is becoming a more mainstream trend. In fact, bringyourpet.com is a website totally devoted to listing pet-friendly lodging. Sometimes these places even offer pet "extras," like bedding, food and water bowls, etc.

Some hotels even go "all out" for pets. The Ritz Carlton in San Francisco offers a Bow Wow Chow menu, which includes raw beef tenderloin at $45/lb. The Hotel Indigo in Atlanta even holds a Canine Cocktail hour where your pet can mingle with other pets.

Most travelers who do take pets along are traveling for leisure. However, business travel with pets is becoming more popular as well. Extended stay hotels have typically offered pet-friendly environments to business travelers. Thee hotels such as Staybridge or Candlewood Suites are geared to business travelers, and yes, now even to pets. More people are bringing pets to work (some companies say this increases morale) so it would make sense that they are also traveling for business with their pets.

Midwest Airlines offers a special deal for pets. After three trips, the animal's fourth trip is free. Travelers can also redeem frequent flier miles to get comp flights for their pets. A more luxury airline called NetJets, where fliers have partial ownership in the airline, offers 24-hour veterinary advice.

Yes, there are plenty of places that still impose restrictions, and sometimes traveling with pets can be a real hassle. For example, at many airlines, travelers with pets must check in at the desk to have their animals inspected. Sometimes hotels can charge anywhere from $10 a day to $125 for a stay to include pets. Airlines may charge $50-$100 extra for a one way airline flight for your pet. However, traveling with pets can be done.

Again, I'm not knocking pet owners, but this seems to me rather a ridiculous trend. Don't we have better things to spend our money on in this country (oh, say stopping poverty) than traveling with our pets. It just seems kind of bizarre. Pets can be left at home for short periods of time. They can be boarded at a kennel or left with a friend. I miss my pets when I am gone, but they stay home. It's hard enough to travel by yourself much less adding the stress of a pet and the stress for that pet. Pets don't always travel well. Plus airlines are so jam-packed as it is, why would you bring your pet?

From "Have Pooch, Will Travel" in U.S. News and World Report Feb. 26, 2007