You’re all charged up to go on your next big trip, now that the world is slowly and surely opening up. But there’s one important issue to sort out before you even start looking at where to go — what do you do with your pet dog or cat?
Boarding fees are not cheap and it’s not always the best feeling to leave your dear pet feeling down as you fly away to have a good time.
Thankfully, it’s not that hard to travel with your pet. Whether you are traveling in a car, ship, or airplane, you can always find a way to take your dear companion along. Have a pen ready, though, because it does involve some amount of planning and paperwork. Here are some tips to help you along the way.
Do The Research
The first thing you need to do is understand how to travel with your pet. So take some time off to sit down and review the options. There are quite a few sites that offer good advice on the topic, like The Points Guy, The Humane Society, CDC, and Travel and Leisure, to name a few.
Explore which airlines allow pets and what the requirements are, how to find the perfect pet-friendly stay during your vacation and what to do in an emergency.
Once you have the basic research sorted out, you can go ahead and figure out what to do about your travel.
Plan In Advance
It’s imperative that you plan your trip well in advance, especially if you’re planning to travel internationally. Flights and ships require a certain amount of paperwork that needs to be submitted, apart from the different specifications that other countries have about importing pets.
We would advise, though, that you only take pets on international vacations if you’re going to be gone for a while. Air travel is risky for pets, so make sure you understand what you’re doing before signing up for this.
And if you do, try to make sure you can carry your (small) pet in the cabin, as this is the safer (and less traumatic) option. For this, you’ll need to contact the airline in advance and they have restrictions on how many animals they can allow in the cabin.
Ships also require a certain amount of information beforehand, so make sure this is taken care of. Road trips are arguably a lot easier to go on with your pet. And we’ll get to that in just a minute.
Find The Perfect Stay
After you’ve chosen your mode of transport, it’s time to find the perfect stay. A lot of hotels are pet-friendly but it’s imperative to find out beforehand so that you don’t get a nasty surprise when you eventually land up there. Also, many of them levy a pet fee that you need to be aware of when budgeting the tour.
If hotels are not your game, then try homestays that are pet-friendly. If possible and in case you’re not staying in a city, try to find something with a backyard when your companion can also take a break and spend some time unwinding.
Plan Your Days
Once the basics are done, it’s imperative to plan your days with a mix of activities, including some that your best friend can join you in. Also, understand if your hotel allows pets to be left alone in the room while you’re out and what the procedure is for that.
It’s important to try and include your companion in your vacation whenever possible so that they don’t feel left out and alone in a cold hotel room.
Take Frequent Breaks
This mostly applies to road trips, where you have the option of stopping for breaks. Dogs and cats are not always comfortable in cars, so make sure you have a seat (for a dog) and a crate (for a cat).
Have water readily available in case they’re feeling hot and stop every couple of hours at least to give them a break. They don’t always understand why they’re cooped up in a little car that’s constantly moving, so they’ll be grateful when you allow them to stretch their legs a little bit. Find a park if you can, for your pit stops.
Bring Backup For Emergencies
While I’m sure that nothing untoward will take place, it’s important to be prepared. Pack some extra food, treats, and any cold-weather supplies if you’re traveling in winter. You can also find emergency pet medical kits like these that could be useful to have on you. I
If your pet is on medication, make sure to have a few extra in case you decide to stay extra days or are delayed due to weather or other reasons.
Oh well, those are some tips to keep in mind when you travel. We hope you have a great trip with your companion(s).
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Great tips for pet owners!