By David Buster
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 pets, 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.
About the Author
David Buster is
Vice-President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.bestvacationrentalsonline.com -
visit the website for more on pet friendly lodging and to find log cabin
rentals, vacation home rentals, condos and chalets, places to get married,
discount hotel rooms, adventure travel and more.
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