RSS
Home
Travelling with your pets on the open road
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Put a leash on your pet before
opening the car door, so that if the dog
or cat bolts, you have something to
grab.
When it comes to a family vacation, many dogs and some cats, get to call shot gun.
Thankfully, they don't know what shot gun is and are content with riding along in the back seat. But if you are smart enough to never have more pets than car windows, then you probably have one happy camper, just thrilled at the many rest stops he will soon get to pee at.
Or not. You could also have a panting, stressed, nauseated pet passenger that would rather stay home.
So here are a few things to consider before heading out on the open road with your pet.
Can your pet handle the travel? Animals that have not built-up a tolerance to car travel may get sick the first few times out. This condition isn’t always permanent. Comparable to getting your “sea legs” on a boat, your pet may just need a few short car trips to adjust. If your pet never adjusts to car travel, leave him home with a reliable pet sitter or a boarding kennel. Why make him suffer?
What do you need to bring? When packing for your pet, include a leash, water and food dishes, favorite toys, and medications. Also pack enough food to last the trip, a jug of water to avoid stomach upset the first day, bedding, a scooper, and paper towels for quick clean-ups. You will need a litter pan for cats and lots and lots of plastic bags for dog waste. Bring a copy of their vaccination records too in case you have to board them in an emergency.
How should pets travel in the car? Secure your pet in a carrier or in a seat belt especially made for pets. Even in a minor accident, an unsecured animal can be severally injured, killed, or lost.
What happens if your pet bolts from the car? An anxious dog or cat can bolt when a car or hotel room door is open. Always have your pet on a leash before opening doors and add a second ID tag to your pet’s collar that includes your cell phone number, your veterinarian’s number, or a friend’s number back home.
Where can you stay overnight with a pet? Gone are the days where you have to sneak your dog or cat in under your shirt. Today, there are more than 23,000 hotels, inns, campgrounds and resorts in the U.S. that welcome well-behaved dogs and cats, and you can walk them right in on a leash or in a carrier. Call them, however, to make sure they accept the type of pet you are bringing along. One pet friendly hotel I tried to stay at would only accept dogs, not cats, so they turned me away. So always ask before arriving (because it's no fun sneaking a cat in under your shirt).
Related Articles:
Comments
.jpg)
