Hit the road! Travel with your pet

Keep your pet comfortable during your family trip

By Jennifer Foster

Your beloved Fido or dearest Fluffy does not have to miss the annual family vacation anymore. Because the travel industry is increasingly pet-friendly, travelling with a pet has become more popular than ever.

“Pets are part of the family, so many people prefer to bring them along,” says Angela Wu, founder of Canada’s Pet Friendly, an online directory of pet-friendly vacation rentals. “People are simply realizing they can travel with their pets.”

Bringing your pet on vacation does require some planning, however. It’s wise to book all travel arrangements for your pet well in advance, as most airlines and trains have limited space for animals, and some won’t accept them during peak travel periods.

Booking air travel

Most airlines accept cats, dogs, birds and some small rodents, but some countries don’t allow pets at all. Before booking, check with your travel agent or the destination country’s consulate for importation requirements and any laws about quarantine procedures.

Pets must be kept in crates under the passenger seat (in the cabin) or in cargo. Most airlines’ web sites, such as Air Canada’s, list size requirements and travel fees.

Alice Crook, co-ordinator of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College, suggests taking the following precautions:

Have your pet on the same flight with you.
Travel by non-stop flights.
Ensure your pet won’t be sitting on baggage carts in burning heat or frigid cold.
Determine how to provide water for your pet if the journey is longer than three hours.

Booking train travel

Canada’s Via Rail accepts only cats, dogs and small rodents if the train has a baggage car, which is where all pets must travel in crates. The web site provides information on fees.

Selecting your destination

When choosing lodgings, ensure your pet will be welcome there, too. Book your accommodations in advance, and determine what restrictions and additional fees exist. “Accommodations vary in degrees of pet-friendliness,” says Wu.

Some provide just the basics: pets can stay in the same rooms as their owners. Other places truly cater to pets. They offer

welcome baskets
extra sheets and towels
short-term pet-sitting services
pet beds
listings for local vet clinics, pet walkers, groomers and pet supply stores

Pet-friendly lodgings will also have specific pet policies, says Wu. Visit Takeyourpet to find helpful pet lodging etiquette.

Preparing your pet for travel

Your pet must be healthy before travelling. Vaccinations (especially for rabies) must be up to date, and you must have the papers to prove it, stresses Crook. These papers are mandatory for international flights.

Also ensure your pet has heartworm protection if mosquito season begins earlier or ends later in the area you’ll be visiting. Tranquilizing your pet before travelling should be done only on the recommendation of a vet. Crook says the procedure depends on the pet’s temperament, the pet’s breed and the length of the journey. “It helps in some cases, but for others, the accompanying disorientation may actually cause the pet more stress.”

Keeping your pet comfortable in a crate or kennel

Crook says pets should be accustomed to being in a crate. “Get them used to the carrier before the trip. Leave the door open; put bits of food in for them to go in.”

Ensure your pet’s crate will meet airline or train size regulations and safety standards, which can usually be found on the company’s web site. Pack the following items:

all necessary pet medications
a leash
a collar
a harness
food and dishes
favourite toys
bedding
treats
litter and supplies
waste bags
grooming and cleaning supplies
a first-aid kit

Before placing your pet on a plane or train, make sure the animal is wearing an ID tag that includes its name, your name and all necessary contact information. If your pet is travelling in cargo, keep the crate unlocked (in case of emergency) and mark it with a sign that says “Live Animal. This Side Up.”

Wu suggests carrying a pet folder with you. It should include the following information: