How to Travel With Your Pet

With the number of pet-friendly travel modes and places of lodging, there's never been a better time to travel with your animal companion. Make the proper arrangements to travel with your pet safely.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog Crate Mats
• Pet Car Seat Cover
• Pet Car Seats
• Pet Luggage
• Pet Travel Dishes
• Pet Travel Kits
• Pet Carriers
• Pet Crates

1. Check ahead if traveling by bus, train or plane for specific regulations applying to transportation of pets.

2. Provide a crate for your pet, and make sure the animal can stand erectly inside the crate.

3. Clearly mark the crate with the words "live animal," if the animal is flying in cargo.

4. Provide a car seat that keeps the pet secure and able to see outside the car window when traveling by car, or put the animal in a crate.

5. Check with a veterinarian about administering a tranquilizer to your pet, though most pets don't need them. Obtain a health certificate from a vet, if needed.

6. Contact a country's consulate for information regarding vaccinations, quarantines and paperwork for international travel.

7. Consult books at your local library for dog-friendly motels and hotels, or check with your auto club.

Tips & Warnings

• Seeing eye dogs can accompany a blind person on buses, trains and planes; remember to notify the company or airline in advance.

[PetTraveler]

on 1/5/2009 I would also check out Pet Airways, a pet only airline that flys your pet in the main cabin not in cargo. They even have a pet attendant taking care of your pet the entire time. See more at www.PetAirways.com

[briteeyez]

on 7/8/2008 I always take my own drinking water for my pet. Execellent advice

[messytanka]

on 7/8/2008 I had to get my Jack Russell Terrier a tranquilizer before a 20 hour road trip and it didn't knock her out, it just made her drowsy so she was an angel the whole way.

on 11/22/2005 Bring your own drinking water from home for your pet's use. This is best done by filling gallon jugs. Dogs can sometimes have delicate stomachs, and they may get sick after drinking strange water. If you don't bring enough water with you, there is always the option of purchasing bottled water for your dog. Remember to bring along your pet's usual food, and a couple of bowls. I take along inexpensive disposable plastic bowls (or paper ones that I can throw away after each use).

on 11/22/2005 I travel a lot and have quite a few cats. Here's what I do (you can adjust this method for your vehicle's size). It's far less expensive and space-consuming than buying several individual carriers, and my "fur-balls" seem to enjoy this:

Buy a wire crate, the type commonly used for house-training puppies. Mine is about 20"x24". The door should have *two* latches, top and bottom.

Using metal hangers, suspend an appropriately-sized press-board or plywood board half-way down the height of the crate. If you're not handy, ask at the hardware store--someone there will probably do this for a few bucks.

Saw the crate's door in half width-wise to make a "dutch door" in the crate.

You now have a comfortable and safe way of transporting your kitties. I got carpet samples for a dollar each to cushion the top and bottom "floors," and for about five dollars more, I got some fleece from Wal-Mart so they could burrow if they want. I carry the cats to and from my SUV in duffel bags.