Traveling with Pets Doesn’t Have to Be Scary

We love our pets. And on longer journeys we take, where we either do not want to put up our animal with a boarding facility or leave them in the care of a friend, we instead choose to bring them with us on our journey. For some families, bringing a dog or cat with them on a family trip is second nature – our furry friends are members of our family, and so we want them to take part in all of the rest of the things that our family does, and that includes travel.

What are the Basics for Travel with Pets?

There are a lot of factors that go into common sense when you travel with pets. You can read more about traveling with dogs here. Since most people think of their pets as being part of their family, treat them as family members when you’re traveling with them. Take the time to make sure they’re comfortable (you could try a quality pet carrier like the ones at https://www.mrpeanutspremiumproducts.com/). Make sure they have what they need for food and drink, and take time to give them breaks to walk around. All of these things are common sense.

Some people have no doubt heard horror stories of what can happen if you aren’t attentive to your pet.  Many people remember hearing the story – over and over again – of what happened with Mitt Romney’s family dog on one journey when the new Utah Senator and former Presidential candidate was on a family trip. The dog wasn’t feeling well, and fear of the animal making a mess inside of the car in his carrier meant he got to ride on top. And disaster struck on the journey, indeed. The Romney family was horrified to see that he had indeed messed his crate out of fear, and the result was made evident running down the back window of the family SUV.

What About Taking My Pet on a Plane?

Taking care of our pets’ comfort during travel isn’t always something we can take complete care of, however. For example, what if your journey is through the air? For most people, bringing their pets with them directly on the airplane isn’t an option, due to restrictions set by airlines and their own financial situation. And no doubt people have heard harrowing stories in recent news, with airlines mishandling pet carriers and the pets inside not surviving the journey. And who could forget the woman who, back in October, was kicked off of her Frontier Airlines flight because of her emotional support squirrel? So, what can a thoughtful pet owner do to make sure their pets are comfortable?

Some advice comes from the New York Times. The first thing you need to know is whether or not flying with your pet is safe. You should check with your veterinarian before planning on flying with your pet, to make sure your breed and your pet, in particular, is healthy enough for the flight.

Once you’ve made sure the trip will be safe for your furry friend, then you also should make sure that everything is ready to go with your airline. Many airlines have specific rules and paperwork that must be filled out before you can come aboard, so don’t show up at the airport with your pet expecting to just use him or her as your carryon. Like we discussed before, making sure you have a good, comfortable carrier is of utmost importance for your pet’s enjoyment of the flight. You should treat your pet like you’d treat any other member of your family – make sure they get everything else they need, like snacks that will be good for their stomach, and make sure they get plenty of water. Follow this advice, and your trip with your pet should be as easy and painless as any other flight.