In the United States alone, over 60 million households have one
or more pets. Pet owners in 15 million of those households travel
with their pet, and the majority stay in pet-friendly
lodging. Fortunately, pet friendly hotels, condos and vacation home
rentals do exist. If you will be traveling with your pet, here are
some pet friendly tips to remember for safe and trouble-free travel.
1 - When you make your reservation, double-check that pets are
allowed. An important advantage of reserving online is that you can
see - in writing - whether or not pets are permitted and any
restrictions. Online, you can print out your reservation receipt
that includes the "pets allowed" information. Verbal reservations
leave more room for misunderstanding and miscommunication. If
reserving by telephone, ask the reservation person to mail you a
confirmation receipt that includes the “pets allowed” information.
2 - Is your pet an experienced traveler? If not, you should
begin getting your pet more accustomed to traveling. Begin by making
your car a fun place for your pet. Get in the car with them, play
with them, give them a treat – have them enjoy being there with
you. Then take a short drive with them. Gradually increase the
length of time and distance that you drive with them. Before making
a long trip with your pet, the idea is to have them comfortable with
being in the car for extended periods of time.
3 - Remember that securing your pet while traveling in the car
is crucial for their safety and yours. Consider purchasing a dog
safety harness for your pet to use while traveling in the car. If
you have a station wagon or SUV, you can purchase a vehicle barrier
that keeps your pet confined to the rear area. They are usually sold
at pet stores or are available online.
4 - Be sure that your pet has an identification tag and wears
it while on the trip. The tag should have your pet's name, your name
and phone number. If possible, use your cell phone number, a home
number and the number of where you will be staying.
5 – Carry a photograph of your pet with you on your trip. If
your pet should ever become lost, you’ll be able to show others
exactly what your pet looks like instead of just relying on a verbal
description.
6 - Check with your vet for any recommended vaccinations
appropriate for your trip - exposure to ticks while hiking, exposure
to other dogs while boarding or heartworm prevention if your dog
will be exposed to mosquitoes are examples of important preventative
measures to take before your trip. If your pet is a dog, have an
up-to-date rabies tag for your dog's collar. If you decide to day
board your dog while on vacation, you may be required to show
paperwork proof of the rabies vaccination.
7 - Once you arrive at the pet friendly lodging, inform the
check-in person that you have your pet. You can inquire if there are
any restricted areas where your pet should not be taken. Pet
friendly lodging staff should be very accustomed to answering these
kinds of questions and will appreciate your awareness.
8 - In your hotel room, condo, cabin rental or vacation home
rental - never let your pet use the furniture or beds to sit, lay or
sleep on unless you've covered the furniture or bed with your own
cover. Place your pet’s food and water containers on a mat or
newspaper in the bathroom, where cleanup will be easier. When
staying in pet friendly accommodations, you may choose to feed your
pet outdoors.
9 - If you'll be leaving your pet alone in the room or
vacation rental, make sure the front desk or rental agent knows. Be
sure that you leave your pet secured in their travel container or
crate if housekeeping staff will be entering the room at any time to
clean. You certainly don't want a housekeeper to enter and be
surprised or even attacked by your pet! A pet may also run out of
the room when housekeeping enters if left unsecured.
10 - Be very careful in warm or hot weather with leaving your
pet in the car. Even when the outside temperature is only in the
70’s or 80’s, the interior of a vehicle can reach 100 degrees and
higher, especially when parked in the sun. It doesn’t take long at
these temperatures to cause serious or even fatal harm to your pet.
Traveling with pets and staying in pet friendly lodging can be
lots of fun - after all, your pet is part of your family too. Just
using common sense and planning ahead makes for an enjoyable and
surprise-free vacation.
Copyright 2005 David Buster
David Buster is Vice-President of InfoSearch Publishing and
webmaster of
http://www.bestvacationrentalsonline.com - visit the website to
learn more about pet travel and to find pet friendly lodging, log
cabin rentals, vacation home rentals, condos and chalets, places to
get married, discount hotel rooms, adventure travel and more.
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