Best Pet Articles
Search

Pet Friendly Vacations - 10 Tips for Hassle-Free Travel with Your Pet

Web Search

Pet friendly vacations and travel planning make sense -- after all, pets are family members too! 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 planning pet friendly vacations, here are some tips 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 so that pet friendly vacations won't be something new. 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 - Pet friendly vacations planning should include taking steps to ensure your pet can be found if it accidentally becomes lost while on vacation. 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 being boarded 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 taking pet friendly vacations, 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 even 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 while taking pet friendly vacations in warm or hot weather. Leaving your pet in the car can be deadly. 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 enjoyable and surprise-free pet friendly vacations.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.bestvacationrentalsonline.com - visit the website to find pet friendly vacations lodging worldwide, log cabin rentals, vacation home rentals, places to get married, discount hotel rooms, adventure travel and more.


MORE RESOURCES:

Pets of the Week
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 12 hours ago
Visit the Utah Animal Adoption Center, 1955 N. Redwood Road, or consult the web at www.utahanimaladoptioncenter.org. For information, call 801-355-PETS.
Pets of the Week Salt Lake Tribune
all 3 news articles


Times Online

A promise to our pets, "They will never be left behind again"
Examiner.com - 6 hours ago
"We felt it was important to honor all the pets that suffered as well as all the volunteers who came and went without any recognition," says Jeff Dorson, ...
Video: Hurricane Gustav Nears, Is New Orleans Ready? AssociatedPress
250 dogs, cats to leave New Orleans before storm St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Hurricane threatens New Orleans, three years after Katrina AFP
Environment News Service - The Associated Press
all 4,122 news articles


Various options exist when pets die
Calgary Herald,  Canada - 17 hours ago
What does a person do with a deceased pet? The first thought was to bury her in the backyard. I expect many Calgary backyards contain the remains of pet ...
Pet restrictions spark lively debate Vernon Morning Star
all 2 news articles


World Rabies Day Reminder - Vaccinate Pets
MarketWatch - 21 hours ago
It's more important than ever to vaccinate pets. Unfortunately, cats are less likely than dogs to be vaccinated against rabies, and as a result, ...


Bill to ban drivers from holding pets is in Gov's hands
The Salinas Californian, CA - 6 hours ago
The Assembly Thursday finished legislative work on Assembly Bill 2233 by Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia, that would prohibit motorists from holding pets ...


Where Do Pets Go while their Owners are Homeless?
WIBW, KS - 7 hours ago
A new, non-profit organization aims to ease the troubles of pets belonging to people who are temporarily homeless. Pets from the temporarily homeless will ...
A Helping Paw Topeka Capital Journal
Group opens door for Topekans struggling with pet ownership KTKA.com
all 4 news articles


Calling Animal Lovers! SPCA of Texas, Dallas needs donations to ...
CaymanMama.com (press release), TX - 10 hours ago
The already overcrowded shelters in Dallas and McKinney have ceased the admission of owner-surrendered pets in order to accommodate the animals who will be ...
SPCA of Texas in Dallas, McKinney help animals fleeing Hurricane ... Dallas Morning News
all 4 news articles


Animal Shelter goes to the fair
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 5 hours ago
6 and 7, is welcoming the shelter to share in presenting pets for adoption. This should be a lot of fun for animal lovers, especially for families on the ...
Shot and licensing clinic Quartzsite Times
all 2 news articles


Your pet may want to shed those kilos!
The Times, South Africa - 7 hours ago
CATS and dogs as fat as hogs are getting a chance to be South Africa’s biggest loser — in a pet-slimming competition. This year’s Hill’s Pet Slimmer of the ...


Pets for Adoption
Savannah Morning News, GA - 1 hour ago
The following pets are available from the Humane Society Chatham-Savannah. Applications are available at The Humane Society, 7215 Sallie Mood Drive. ...

Pets - Google News

home | site map | SubArticle
© 2008