Millions of pets travel each year by plane, bus and boat Precious pets going along for the ride
TRAVEL for humans during holidays is tough enough: Long lines, crowds everywhere, extra bags full of presents. Throw a pet in the mix and it’s a recipe for disaster.
But Sheron Long, a frequent traveller and author of Dog Trots Globe – To Paris and Provence, said it was worth the trouble.
‘‘Every trip was better when Chula could be with us,’’ she said of her Shetland sheepdog.
‘‘She was so excited, I could imagine her dog’s-eye view of the world. It causes you to explore and go see different things and meet people.’’
The United States Department of Transportation estimates more than 2 million pets and other animals are transported by air each year in America.
Pets aren’t allowed on Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses or cruise lines but they can go on many regional train, bus and boat lines.
The majority of four-legged carry-on passengers are dogs, but some airlines allow rabbits, birds and other small animals.
Experts say before including a pet in travel plans, consider whether it would enjoy the experience.
‘‘Some dogs don’t like to travel, some love it,’’ said Kelly E Carter, the pet travel expert for AOL’s Paw Nation and a Chihuahua owner. ‘‘You have to know your pet.’’
Caroline Golon’s two Persian cats ‘‘are not big fans of car travel’’ – the only way that they can travel since their breed is banned by many airlines. Golon said when they travel, the family stops at petfriendly hotels rather than drive non-stop.
‘‘Stopping overnight gives them a chance to use the litter box at their leisure and eat and drink comfortably,’’ said Golon, the founder of High Paw Media.
Gwen Cooper, the author of Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat, said animals picked up on their owners’ moods, ‘‘ which means if you’re nervous, your cat or dog is going to be nervous, too’’.
‘‘The best way to avoid being nervous is to prepare you and your pet ahead of time and think through as many contingencies as possible.’’
For eligible cats and dogs, airlines have size requirements for pets in the cabin, so a small pet must fit in a carrier that can be stowed under a seat and larger ones must be checked in.
Long’s dog weighs 131⁄ kilograms, so 9-year-old Chula has to fly in cargo.
During the holidays, though, when planes are fuller and lines are longer, some airlines ban pets in cargo, as well as at times when the heat or cold is intense.
Certain breeds can never fly on some airlines, including those considered to have bullying characteristics, like pit bulls, and snub-nosed animals like shih tzus or Persian cats because of potential breathing problems.
Animals that travel on Amtrak, Greyhound or cruises get a ticket to ride through their roles as service animals. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, trained helper animals such as guide dogs or signal dogs must be allowed.
Pet accommodations at airports differ, though every airport has animal-relief areas. Some are easy to find – San Francisco’s has paw prints on the floor leading to them – and most or all areas are located outside of security checkpoints. Federal transportation guidelines require animals to be removed from carriers, so pets should be collared and leashed – especially cats.
Pet carriers are not X-rayed but owners’ hands may be wiped for chemical testing.
Lisa Porter, chief executive of a website that lists pet-friendly places to stay and activities around the country, said more businesses were catering to customers with a pet in tow than ever before.
For example, some vineyards and wineries had opened their tours to pets, and as many as 90 per cent of hotels in some cities were pet-friendly, she said.
Most five-star hotels have accommodations and perks for wellbehaved pets, and even most discount hotels are pet-friendly.
Other hotels have weight limits on animals.
Some charge a nightly fee for animals, some have cleaning deposits and some will charge only if there is damage.
In France, where Long and Chula spend four months each year, so many people take dogs to restaurants that there is an ‘‘ undertable culture going on’’, she said.
The French hospitality for dogs stops at museums, though: ‘‘ The French prize their dogs, but they prize their art work even more.’’
Chula has been such a good travel buddy that she inspired Long’s book, which is a travelogue written from a dog’s point of view.