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Traveling With Your Pet If you are planning a trip and you plan to have your pet(s) accompany you, then you have a few decisions to make before you depart. The following are some tips to help you plan a safe and smoother trip for both you and your pet. Should You Travel With Your Pet? Some pets are not suited for travel because of temperament, illness or physical impairment. If you have any doubts about whether it is appropriate for your pet to travel, talk to your veterinarian. If you decide that your pet should not travel with you, consider the alternatives- have a responsible friend or relative look after your pet, board your pet at a kennel or hire a sitter to visit, feed and exercise your pet. If a friend or relative is going to take care of your pet, ask if that person can take your pet into his or her home. Animals can get lonely when left at home alone. Be sure that your pet is comfortable with his or her temporary caretaker and any pets that person has. If you choose to board your pet, get references and inspect the kennel. Your veterinarian or local shelter can help you select a facility. If you are hiring a sitter, interview the candidates and check their references. (A pet sitter may be preferable if your pet is timid or elderly and needs the comfort of familiar surroundings during your absence.) If you are going to be gone only overnight or for two nights at most, you might consider leaving your cat in his own home. Food should be no problem, especially if you are using a dry food. Leave an adequate supply, using two bowls if necessary, and your cat can nibble to his heart's content when he feels the urge to eat. Make sure that you leave him enough water on hand so that he won't run out of it. Clean his litter box before leaving and put fresh litter in it. You may want to hire a cat sitter for a longer trip away from home. Leave feeding instructions, a schedule for cleaning the litter box, the veterinarian's name and number and a number where you can be reached. Whatever option you choose, there are a few things to remember. Your pet should be up to date on all vaccinations and in sound health. Whoever is caring for your pet should know the telephone number at which you can be reached, the name and telephone number of your veterinarian, and your pet's medical or dietary needs. Be sure that your pet is comfortable with the person you have chosen to take care of him or her. If You Plan to Travel With Your Pet The Pre-Trip Veterinary Examination Before any trip, have your veterinarian examine your pet to ensure that he or she is in good health. A veterinary examination is requisite for obtaining the legal documents required for many forms of travel. In addition to the examination, your veterinarian should provide the necessary vaccinations. If your pet is already up to date on its vaccinations, obtain written proof. Your veterinarian may prescribe a tranquilizer for the pet who is a nervous traveler; however, such drugs should be considered only after discussion with your veterinarian. He or she may recommend a trial run in which your pet is given the prescribed dosage and you can observe the effects. Do not give your pet any drugs not prescribed or given to you by your veterinarian. Legal Requirements When traveling with your pet, it is always advisable to keep a health certificate (a document from your veterinarian certifying that your pet is in good health) and medical records close at hand. If you and your pet will be traveling across state lines, you must obtain from your veterinarian a certificate of rabies vaccination. Although pets may travel freely throughout the United States as long as they have proper documentation, Hawaii requires a 120-day quarantine for all dogs and cats. Hawaii's quarantine regulations vary by species, so check prior to travel. If you and your pet are traveling from the United States to Canada you must carry a certificate issued by a veterinarian that clearly identifies the animal and certifies that the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies during the preceding thirty-six-month period. Different Canadian provinces may have different requirements. Be sure to contact the government of the country you and your pet are traveling to. If you and your pet are traveling to Mexico, you must carry a health certificate prepared by your veterinarian within two weeks of the day you cross the border. The certificate must include a description of your pet, the lot number of the rabies vaccine used, an indication of distemper vaccination and a veterinarian's statement that the animal is free from infectious or contagious disease. This certificate must be stamped by an office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The fee for the stamp is $4. Taking Your Cat Along If you are planning to include your cat in your travel plans, get him used to riding in the car. Also, be sure that a special identification tag is attached to his collar. To start with, put him in his carrier and take him along when you have a short errand to do. Or drive him around the block. But never leave him in a closed car, even for a few minutes, in hot weather. Leaving windows open a few inches does not always provide sufficient air to keep your cat cool and comfortable. He could suffer heat stroke, dehydration, or even death. If it is necessary to leave your car, when you park choose a shaded area and check on your cat periodically. If motion sickness is a problem or he seems unable to adjust to travel, you may decide that both you and your cat will be happier if he stays home. If your cat does go, make a careful supply checklist when you are planning the trip and use it the day of your departure. Take a supply of your cat's usual diet so he won't suffer possible digestive upsets due to diet changes. Take any medications he may be using, and a schedule of when he has to take them. Make sure you pack his litter box, cat litter and litter scoop, as well as his scratching post, bed, and favorite toys. These will all help give him a feeling of security no matter where he is. Hotels Traveling with those we love and whose company we enjoy can be one of life's great pleasures. Our pets can be counted among those who enrich our lives. How many vacations have been dampened or cut short over the years because you either couldn't find an appropriate sitter for your beloved pets or you simply couldn't bear to leave them behind? Hundreds of resorts, hotels, inns, guest ranches and bed and breakfasts throughout the United States welcome pets with open arms. That's why Pets Welcomeä (A Guide to Hotel, Inns and Resorts That Welcome You and Your Pet) will be a handy resource for you, to help you discover and select some of the best places to stay when traveling with your four-legged companions. Pets Welcomeä , which is published by Bon Vivant Press, a division of The Millennium Publishing Group, caters to all kinds of budgets by offering an array of lodging options, ranging from the luxurious and romantic to the quirky and rustic. Each location, selected for its ambiance, guest amenities and pet friendliness, has been artfully described. Pets Welcome is available in various editions- America's South Edition, California Edition, Mid-Atlantic Edition, National Edition, New England/New York Edition, Pacific Northwest Edition, and Southwest Edition. To order one or more of the editions, please visit our Pet Shop for specific details.
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