Traveling with Pets: Dog and Cat Travel Checklist

Many people face special challenges if they wish to travel with their pets. Of course the ideal arrangement is to have the animal or animals stay at home and to have someone that you can depend on that will take care of them such as watering, feeding, walking, etc. An alternative however is to board your animals with a professional pet sitter or a boarding kennel.

However if you want to have your pet or pets travel with you or if your moving to a new location and you must bring them along there are several travel tips that may help you:

The first thing to remember is many pets do fine when traveling and most of the ones that do well are pets that have been highly socialized. However, there are some pets that can become quite frightened when traveling or being exposed to unfamiliar surroundings. It is important to remember that these pets can bolt away from you, jump quickly out of open doors or car windows, therefore it is important to always keep pets secured on leashes or in traveling containers when traveling.

As well as, pets should always wear identification tags in addition to their regular ones when traveling anywhere.

Make sure the tags have the pet's name, owner's name, methods of contact, phone numbers, and a destination address so that you can be reached.

Remember that pets are not permitted on buses and trains unless they are service animals such as for the blind.
Notify any airline, bus, or train company when a service animal like a seeing eye dog is traveling with you.

Consult with your vet concerning the need for possible mild sedation of pets during any trip. Sedation may be necessary if the pet is not used to noise or the trip is going to be excessively long such as overseas trips.

Air Travel Tips for Pets

If you decide to send your pet or pets by air, make arrangements ahead of time regarding delivery to and from all airports. Carefully schedule boarding arrangements for your pets to assure that any of your pets are well cared for until you reach your destination. Follow all airline instructions carefully.

Check with the airline as to all requirements such as the need for special carriers that can be kept under a seat or any travel instructions for traveling by air freight.

Consider sending smaller pets such as hamsters, gerbils, and birds by air express. Airline freight departments, pet stores and some department stores can supply sufficient animal shipping containers.

Familiarize your pet or pets with the travel containers they will be placed in when traveling, it is best to familiar them with the containers for at least two weeks prior to traveling. Place the pet or pets in the containers for short periods of time until they seem at ease with it.

Feed the pet or pets approximately six hours before flight time and give the pet a drink of water no less than two hours before any air travel.

Make sure the pets or pet gets to the air terminal early. If shipping a pet, get to the flight terminal two hours in advance of your flight to make sure all the necessary arrangements are to your specific instructions.

Make sure all tags and paperwork has the correct names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the persons responsible for the pet or pets at their destination or origin and are clearly marked on the pet container and on the pet's ID tag. Make sure the words "Live Animal" are in big letters on the container and any information about special care instructions.

Notify the person receiving the pet or pets that its on the way.

Pets can usually be picked up within 90 or so minutes after flight arrival.

Travel with a Pet by Car

If your dog or cat is not use to traveling by car, get them use to making short trips in advance of any travel plans.

This gets them use to the motion and the confined space in which to move and lessens any stress on the pet or pets.

Dogs should be encouraged to lie quietly, keep their heads inside the car, and to not annoy passengers or the driver. Letting your dog stick his head out of the car is not only dangerous but can irritate the dog's eyes.

Cats are often extremely frightened by car travel, but some socially active cats adjust quite well. Most people allow the cat to find its own place in the car or some feel it is best to put the cat to a carrier.

Folding kennels or crates especially designed for vehicles can be useful for any cat or dog.

Try to get your pet use to being on a leash or harness. Always use the leash or harness when traveling. Pets often bolt into traffic or quickly become lost in a strange places if not properly restrained.

Check in advance to find motels that will permit pets to spend the night.

Be sure that your pet is properly tagged and that it has an up to date shot record firmly attached.

Pet travel kits should include:

Pet food, water, dishes to eat out of, treats, toys, and a blanket or other item that has smells that the animal is use to.

Other helpful items include:

A sedative (if prescribed by your vet), room deodorant if you will be staying overnight at a pet friendly motel or hotel, a pooper scooper and plastic bags in case you have to clean up after your pet.

When your pet has finally arrived at its destination, you will find that your pet has the same problems getting use to its new surroundings as you do. It must learn the way around the house and the local neighborhood. The pet must meet neighbors, including all animals. It must adjust to climate and living conditions, and must learn its boundaries.

References for this article include: www.petswelcome.com/
www.tripswithpets.com/
www.petsonthego.com/