Taking a trip this summer? If your travels include bringing your pets along with you, it’s wise to start thinking about packing and the prep that goes beyond remembering to take along their favorite bowl and toys. Whether by plane, train, or automobile, planning is key in helping to minimize stress all around, keeping you and your furry pals safe and well.
Having a smooth and safe road trip with your pet requires preparation and planning, especially if driving long distances. To prepare your pet, it’s a good idea to take them on a series of short drives and gradually increase the amount of time spent in the car. Allowing pets to roam around the car or ride with their head outside the window can be dangerous, so keep them in the back seat in a harness attached to the seat buckle to prevent injury. If your pet is kept in their crate, check that your pet can stand, sit, lie down, and turn around while inside the crate, and make sure the crate is well-ventilated. Secure the crate so it won’t slide or shift when the car stops. Bring plenty of water, food, a bowl, leash, waste bags, grooming supplies, medication and first-aid, and any travel documents, including proof of rabies vaccination. Feeding your pet three to four hours before leaving on your trip can help prevent car sickness or vomiting. Make frequent stops to allow dogs to go to the bathroom and stretch their legs. Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle as temperatures can rise or fall quickly within minutes and can cause death.
If your vacation is via rail, Amtrak allows dogs and cats on trips up to seven hours on most routes. Your pet must be at least eight weeks old,
odorless, harmless, not disruptive, require no attention during travel, and housed in a carrier with a 20-pound total limit (combined weight of pet and carrier). When you arrive at your departure station, check in at the ticket office 45 minutes before departure so that agents may validate pet eligibility and paperwork; at unstaffed stations, the conductor will validate pet eligibility and paperwork onboard. Learn more at Amtrak.com
From the Peter Pan Bus Terminal, it’s easy and comparatively inexpensive to get from PVD to New York City, Springfield, and Albany, NY; Boston and Cape Cod (Woods Hole, Hyannis, Fall River, New Bedford, MA); and Hartford, CT, and back again. For a non-refundable fee, passengers may bring along a small dog or cat that meets company guidelines, which includes a combined weight of pet and carrier that doesn’t exceed 25 pounds, pets must be at least eight weeks old, and remain inside a leak-proof and well-ventilated carrier placed under the seat during the duration of the trip. Learn more at PeterPanBus.com
Traveling with pets by plane takes careful preparation and planning, and could also be costly. If you must bring your pet on a flight, weeks before your departure, it’s wise to book a direct flight when possible to decrease the chances of your pet being separated from you during extreme weather or layovers. Check your pet’s vaccinations to make sure they are up to date. Get a health certificate from your veterinarian dated within 10 days of your departure. Before heading to the airport, line the cargo crate with some type of bedding (shredded paper or towels) to absorb potential accidents. Place a small dish of water in the crate. Check that the crate door is securely closed but not locked, so airline staff can open it in case of an emergency. Your pet’s crate should have proper identification if shipped as cargo. Mark “live animal” on the crate, and include your name, cell phone, and destination phone number. Before departure or after arrival, give your dog a potty break before securing it in the crate for travel. Once boarded, keep pets in carriers and follow airline policies when bringing them on planes. If hand-carried, never place your pet in an overhead bin. Pets must be secured in their crates below the seat in front of you in accordance with airline policies. For international travel, additional planning and healthcare requirements may be needed. Research the requirements for pets for your destination country as well as for the United States. For animals stowed in the plane’s cargo area, purchase a US Department of Agriculture-approved shipping crate. The crate must be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, and turn around in comfortably. Learn more at CDC.gov
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