Pigs may not fly, but dogs and cats can!

With the right preparation, your furry friend can travel safely and happily via car, train, or plane.

Pet travel often makes the news for the wrong reasons: a flight attendant forced a dog to spend the flight in an overhead bin, where it suffocated to death. A dog traveling in cargo bound for Kansas was instead shipped to Japan.

The risks of pet travel are real. According to the Department of Transportation, 10 pets were killed and 7 were injured while traveling in cargo in 2018. In 2017, the numbers were 24 deaths and 15 injuries. (For the record, almost 20% fewer animals were transported in 2018 than 2017. Most on the problems in 2017 were on United flights. In response, the airline revised its PetSafe program to include new restrictions on the size, breed, and species of dogs and cats permitted to be shipped as cargo. United also stipulated pets will not be allowed in cargo to certain destinations during hot months. You can find United’s complete PetSafe rules here.)

For many pet owners, the risk isn’t worth it. They either board their furry friends or engage pet sitters when traveling. But for those who don’t have a choice, or who want to bring Fido or Mittens along on vacay (more hotels are becoming pet-friendly), there are ways to make the journey safer and happier your pet.

The Basics

  1. Are you sure your pet really wants to go?

Remember traveling involves exposure to new people and different environments. Think about your pet’s personality. If your animal is terrified of strangers or becomes a wreck in unfamiliar places, perhaps it’s best to leave them at home. Always consult with your vet if you have any doubt as to whether your pet is healthy enough to handle the journey.

  1. Book in advance. And confirm, confirm, confirm.

Hotels are getting better at accommodating furry friends. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, sixty percent of hotels were pet-friendly as of 2014. Some of these places offer toys and treats at check-in, cozy dog beds in the room, and even a doggie concierge. Book your hotel or rental accommodation early, and call to confirm you can get a pet-friendly room. (Good to get an email confirmation, too.) Often hotels will only have a certain number of rooms available for pet use. Airlines and trains also have a set capacity for pets on each trip, so reserve ahead of time to be sure there is a spot for your buddy.

  1. Make sure your pet has an ID.

A tag with your pet’s name and your cell number on it well-secured to a sturdy collar goes without saying. Ideally, your dog or cat should be microchipped as well. About the size of a grain of rice, the chip—programmed with a unique ID number—is injected under your pet’s skin. If Fido gets lost, a scan can identify you as his owner. (Be sure to keep your contact information current with the microchip registry database!) Of course, for this all to work requires that Fido be found by someone who will take him to a vet or other location capable of reading the microchip. Still, a study showed microchipped dogs are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owners, with microchip cats more than 20 times likely to be returned.

  1. Get an approved pet carrier and have your pet accustomed to it before the trip.

Check the airline or railway’s website to make sure your carrier meets the requirements; any IATA-approved model should be fine. Label it with your pet’s name and your name and contact info. Also mark the carrier with LIVE ANIMAL in large letters on all sides. You don’t want it mistaken for regular luggage!

Get your pet used to the carrier. While still at home, put treats or your pet’s bedding inside and leave the door open for a few days before your trip. If your pet has never been on a long journey before, take them on short drives in the carrier, increasing the time gradually.

Day of the trip, take your pet on a long walk or run to tire her out before settling her into the carrier. Check if there is an area outside of the airport where you can get in a last-minute walk.

  1. Bring your pet’s medical records.

Get a copy of your pet’s health records and proof of vaccinations from your vet and carry them with you. Rules vary by airline and country, so check for any pet passport requirements before you leave. Sometimes medical records are required when crossing state lines, and you’ll want to have them in case of emergency visit to the vet. If you don’t like caring paper, scanned them onto a USB drive. It’s also a good idea to attach the proof-of-rabies-vaccine tag to your dog’s collar, and to treat your pets with preventative flea and tick medication before you go.

  1. Don’t forget essential gear.

Put bedding your pet has slept on, or one of your T-shirts, into the travel carrier. Bring a collapsible water bowl, poop bags, a safety harness, and a leash. And don’t forget favorite toys!

During the trip, check on your pet frequently to make sure she has water and talk to her gently to remind her you’re nearby.

  1. Feed your pet on schedule, bring food from home, and stick to bottled water.

Feed your pet at the same time as you do at home. If you’ve changed time zones, you may want to move meal time earlier or later, depending on which is closer to dinner time at home. Don’t feed them too much before a long trip; a light meal a few hours before departure is the best prevention against nausea.

Bring your pet’s food from home and stick to bottled water to avoid GI distress.

  1. Make your pets feel safe once you’ve arrived at your new destination.

Once you arrive at your destination, don’t immediately run out, leaving your pet behind. Stay around for a while to help your pet feel settled. If you’ve rented a large house, you may want to use a baby gate to confine your pet to a smaller area, or use the crate if that’s where your pet feels safest.

Road-tripping

Driving is the most popular way to travel with pets, especially dogs. Makes sense: there aren’t the altitude changes that come with air travel, you can move at your own pace, stay with your pet, and pack as many supplies as you need.

There are many websites that can connect to with pet-friendly resources on the road. Check out GoPetFriendly, PetTravel, and BringFido for info on local veterinarians and pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, beaches, stores, campgrounds, and off-leash parks/running trails/ski trails. GoPetFriendly will generate a map of your route marked with pet-related services along the way. PetTravel has information on international import and quarantine rules. And BringFido has reviews of thousands of pet-friendly hotels and rentals.

If you’re driving, be sure to follow the rules of the road. Just like you wear a seatbelt, your pet should, too. An unrestrained pat can be a driving distraction or a projectile in the event of a crash. Not only is it smart, in several states it’s the law. Other states prohibit animals from riding in a truck bed without proper restraint, and a driver can be charged with distracted driving if a pet is seated on the driver’s lap, with their head out the window, or in any other way that blocks the driver’s vision. Choose a CPS-certified restraint that is the correct size for your pet, and position it in the backseat of your car—animals, like little kids, can be injured by front seat airbags.

Stop every few hours to let your pet stretch his legs and relieve himself. Always keep him on a leash; you don’t want your dog to bolt into traffic.

Don’t leave your pet alone in a car, especially during warm weather. On hot days, the temperature inside a car can top 100 degrees in just ten minutes, even with the windows cracked. On mild days (low 60s), I can get that hot in an hour. The risk is reversed on cold days, with temperatures in part cards dipping below freezing. Partially-open windows also raise the possibility that pets might try to jump out, or that passersby will stick their hands in, which can scare animals and provoke them to bite. Per GoPetFriendly, if you’re driving solo and have to use the restroom, lock your pet in the car with a bowl of water and set a five-minute timer on your phone to remind you to get back as fast as possible.

Some dogs are more prone to motion sickness than others. If this is your pet, vets advise feeding only a small meal before departure and taking a 15- to 20-minute break for every two to three hours you’re on the road. The American Kennel Club suggests seating your dog closer to the front of the car so they can watch the scenery ahead as opposed to the blur through the side windows. If your pet’s symptoms are really bad, consult with your vet about medications such as Cerenia, which helps prevent vomiting.

Riding the rails

There are a number of US train systems that allow you to travel with your pet. Here are some of them (click on a link for pet-specific rules):

With respect to Amtrak, dogs and cats weighing up to 20 pounds are allowed on most train routes of seven hours or less. The fee is $25 per animal (less than a quarter of what most airlines charge), but be sure to reserve early: there’s a maximum of five animals allowed per train (one per customer), not including service animals. There are also a few rules:

  • Pet must ride beneath seats in approved, labeled carriers. The maximum carrier size is 19 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 10.5 inches high. Your pet must be able to sit and lie down inside the carrier without touching the sides.
  • Pets are welcome in Coach Class, but may not travel in First Class, Business Class, sleeper or food service cars. (Some routes designate a specific Coach Car for pets.)
  • Pets have to be at least 8 weeks old, healthy, and “harmless.”
  • Owners must sign a document certifying their pet’s vaccinations are current and accepting liability for their pet’s well-being.

Up, up, and away

When it comes to planes, animals are safer in the cabin than the hold. But there are rules and restrictions on which pets can fly there. Typically, Fido or Mittens must be under 15 pounds and be able to fit into a carrier (that is, has enough room to stand up and turnaround) small enough to slide beneath the seat in front of you. (Check your airline webpage for carrier specifics.)

Certain short-nosed breeds banned altogether because of respiratory issues that may make it especially difficult for them to breathe properly under the stress and environment of flying. If you’re a dog owner and you have one of the following breeds, it may advisable for them to avoid air travel:

  • Pug
  • Bulldog
  • French Bulldog
  • Japanese Chin
  • Neapolitan Mastiff
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Shih Tzu
  • Pekingese
  • Brussels Griffon
  • Bullmastiff
  • Affenpinscher
  • English Toy Spaniel

Domestic airlines require pets to be at least eight weeks old in order to fly, and you need to bring a recent health certificate and immunization records from the vet. Fees run around $125 per pet each way. (Unfortunately, your pet doesn’t collect frequent flyer miles!)

If you’re flying internationally, regulations and fees vary according to the airline and the laws of your final destination. (Most countries require you to have a pet health certificate from an accredited vet.) The USDA’s Animal Health Inspection Service lets you check your pet’s eligibility as well as entry and exit requirements for many countries, and PetTravel.com shows you pet policies for 160 airlines.

Note: The rules for flying with emotional support animals or service animals are different; confirm your airline’s and destination country’s policies well before your travel date.

The upshot of the above is many pets are either barred from or too big to fly in the cabin. In that case, you can:

–cross the Atlantic with your pet aboard the Queen Mary 2

-rent out the coach section for your fleet of falcons (btw, each bird had its own passport; several airlines offer bird stands for a fee so owners can fly with their falcons)

-wait for the new Pet Airways to take wing

-fly your pet in the plane’s cargo hold

If your pet will be traveling in cargo, here are some tips that may help keep him safe:

-Travel during mild weather (fall or spring), when it’s less likely your pet will encounter extremes of heat or cold during the flight.

-Use the right kind of carrier: very sturdy and IATA-approved. As described above, the crate should be big enough to let your pet stand up and turn around, and should be labeled with LIVE ANIMAL stickers, your contact information, and your pet’s name. You may also want to attach a photo of your pet to the crate to avoid animal mix-ups and to help ground crew in case your pet gets loose. Use removable zip ties to secure the crate; the last thing you want is your pet to escape and get injured in the cargo hold.

-Freeze a small bowl of water and place it inside the crate. The ice won’t spill out during loading, but it’ll be lickable/drinkable after defrosting during flight. If your pet has a layover and someone else will need to feed it en route, put the pet food in a plastic bag and secure it to the outside of the crate, along with feeding instructions. (Attach an empty feed bowl to the inside of the crate.)

-Think twice before sedating your pet. Sedatives can increase the risk of heart or respiratory issues that may be caused by changing altitude and atmospheric pressure. Sedatives can also interfere with your pet’s balance or equilibrium while in the crate, leading to risk of injury.

-When you board, tell the flight attendants and pilots your pet is in cargo so they can be extra mindful of the temperature and air pressure there.

-Ask airline staff about your pet’s status as soon as you land, then go immediately to baggage claim. As soon as you are reunited, make sure Fido has fresh water and food, then go for a leashed walk. Lots of airports have a pet relief area outside their terminals. (Note: Many airports are cracking down on animals inside their terminals; be sure to follow leash rules and stay in authorized areas.)

Twist’s Take: Traveling with Fido or Mittens isn’t easy. Ask yourself if it’s in your pet’s best interest to make the trip. If the answer is yes, choose the mode of transportation that will be the least stressful to your animal and follow the above advice to give your pet the best chance for a safe and happy journey.

 

 

 

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