Your pets are part of your family. The furbabies that you have become accustomed to being around, just like your partner and your children. It is only natural to want to take them along on your trips. It is not as easy as just throwing a leash on them or putting them into a crate, and off you go.
In fact, your pets may even be harder to take on a trip than any other part of your family. They cannot care for themselves; the most common way they communicate is through their body language. If you are not watching them closely or have not yet figured out what they are trying to tell you, the precious member of your family could go into severe distress.
No one wants that to happen, so you must take a few precautions when planning a trip with your pets. Let’s take a look real fast before you pack up and head out the door.
Taking A Trip With Your Pets On An Airplane
At one time, it was not an easy thing to take a pet on a trip with you, but times have changed in many areas, including this. You can take your furbaby with you anywhere in the world that you want to travel, but there are some things that you need to prepare before loading onto your flight.
- Carrier – You will want to ensure that the travel carrier is the right size for the animal. You want it big enough to turn around, and they need to be able to stand or lay down. A water bottle should be attached to the inside of the carrier with a bowl so they can get some water throughout the light. Plus, you need to have a large sign stating that there is a live animal inside, along with the pet’s name, your name, and your seat location in case the attendants need to get ahold of you for any reason.
- Medications – If you are planning on giving your pet something to help them stay calm, such as a tranquilizer, do it a few minutes before you go to the airport. The medication should have already taken hold before you get onto the plane.
- Loading – Watch your pet get loaded into the cargo hold before you board the plane yourself.
- Communications – Tell the flight attendant you have a pet in the cargo bay. That way, if anything should come up, they will know how to get ahold of you.
Make sure the airline is aware of your need to take the pet with you. That way, there are no surprises. Reserve the tickets early so they can plan the room for the crate. Some airlines will work with you, others will not, so make sure you are going through a pet-friendly airline.
Taking a Trip With Your Pets In A Car
Planning a trip in a car should always begin with asking yourself if the vehicle is reliable enough to get you to the destination point and back again. If not, rent one that will. If yes, get it serviced and checked over before leaving. As for traveling with family pets, you will need to include some extra things in your luggage and there are some extra things you need to check.
- Restrained – Your pet will need to be in a crate, or a special restraining harness, to keep them immobile and safe if an accident should occur.
- Back Seat – The pet needs to be in the back seat, never in the front with you, no matter how much you want them to be.
- Water – Have some water and food available for them when you make stops.
- Stops – Make regular pit stops for you and your pet. Give them enough time to do their business and get food and water into their systems.
- Toy – Have a toy available to keep them busy and one that makes them feel safe and comfortable.
Traveling with your furbaby is not much different than traveling with children. You cannot rush to your destination because they will need to get out once in a while and stretch their legs. A short trip can be made in one shot, but anything longer will require planned pit stops, with room for emergency stops.
Conclusion
Making the trip with your pet is not that much of a hassle if you plan for it. Taking them with you will not only put you at ease, but they will be happier and feel more secure than if you left them home alone. Plus, they are part of your family, so they deserve a vacation just as much as you do.
An important thing that needs to be brought up is that your pet needs to have all of its shots to keep them safe from catching anything on the road. You should also have a strong collar on them with your current information. The pet shouldn’t ever leave your side, but things happen, so you always want to be prepared before you take a trip with your pet.
