Let’s Go! Traveling With Your Pet

Introduction

Whether you travel with your pet by car, airplane, or train — even on the bus or subway — there are certain rules to follow that may be a moving target. Here are some tips that should help you to take your pets with you when you travel.

Checklist

Make a list of everything you’ll need to know and prepare for before you begin your travel, including:

• How will your pet travel? By car, plane, train, or commercial (van) carrier?
• What will the weather be like at the start and finish of the trip, and how will it affect your pet?
• Is your pet up to date on vaccinations, should you need to produce documentation of them?
• Will your pet need a veterinary health certificate?
• Are they old enough to travel via airplane or train? Are they right size for either?
• Are they on any medications that may need to be administered?
• Is your dog crate-trained/your cat carrier-trained?
• Have you packed all of their food, toys, and medications?

The Family Station Wagon

For safety reasons, everyone in a car should be restrained in case of an accident. Many dogs and cats who have been previously shipped may have been put into/left in a crate or carrier, in the dark for many hours, terrified, may not welcome this safety measure. As an alternative to a crate/carrier, a dog or a cat can be trained to wear a harness and be clipped into a seatbelt in the car. However, you would need to be 100% sure that they cannot get out of those restraints, and that they cannot be harmed if they have a panic attack and try to elope. See “Training” below for how to help them tolerate these travel necessities.

The Friendly Skies

 If you are planning on flying with your pet, check the rules of the airline you are hoping to use far before the date of your trip.  Each airline has very stringent guidelines, beginning with the age and size of your pet, the fees associated with your pet’s travel, and where they can and cannot travel. They also limit how many pets can be in the cabin at one time, as well as which aircraft they are allowed on. The easiest option is to have your over-eight-week-old dog or cat secured in a carrier that fits under the seat, if they are able to stay within that carrier, quietly, the whole time. If you think your pet needs medication to tolerate being in a carrier for the duration of a flight, talk to your vet ahead of time. Do not medicate your pet without their advice.

Note that many airlines will no longer fly dogs as cargo, except for those who are active-duty military or in the State Department. Also, “emotional service animals”(ESAs) must now fly in the cabin as pets, in a carrier under the seat, and must meet the criteria above; they are not considered “service dogs” by the Department of Transportation, even if you have a letter from your physician declaring their status as an ESA. A service dog is considered to be an animal who is trained to perform a particular service for its owner (think “hearing” or “seeing-eye” dog); they must fit into the “footprint” of a seat and not exhibit any problematic behaviors.

Keep your pet in their crate in the airport and follow the rules for check-in, which will require you to arrive early, so staff can ensure that your pet is ready to fly.

Riding the Rails

The rules for Amtrak are pretty straightforward: The trip must be fewer than seven hours, and the animal and their carrier must weigh fewer than 20 pounds combined. Some train trips do not allow pets, so check before you buy your ticket, and keep in mind that prices will vary.

Private Carriers/Taking the Bus or Subway

In Boston, you can bring your smaller animal in a carrier on the T. Dogs may be leashed and can ride during off-peak hours. Service animals may ride at all times.

If you are traveling cross-country, there are commercial van carriers who will transport your pet for you.  They typically load a group of crated animals into the van and drive until they arrive. Get a good reference before you entrust your pet to one, and make sure the carrier follows both state and federal regulations.

There are also bespoke airlines who will fly your pet in the cabin. These come and go, but save your pennies — they are not cheap.

Crate/Carrier Training

As a rule, the crate or carrier should be big enough for your pet to stand up and turn around in. You can use a mesh carrier on a plane or train. In the car, use a plastic or nylon carrier — not use a wire crate — in case of a crash. If your dog will ride in the back “hatch,” consider using an impact-proof crate; it is not cheap, but is a bargain if you are ever rear-ended.

You can feed pets meals in the crate, hide treats in there for them to find, and toss treats in, saying “Kennel up!” while rewarding them with more treats when they go in. Spend a lot of time on this step before you close the door. When you do close it, praise them, give them a treat, and open it again.  Gradually increase the amount of time they are in there, and get them used to eating from/licking a food toy while they are inside.

There are many types of restraining harness for dogs and cats, as well as YouTube videos on how to train them to wear them.

Where Will You Stay?

Wherever you plan to stay, try to predict in advance how your pet will behave there. If you are planning on staying in a hotel, don’t forget to confirm that pets are allowed, and bring along a white noise machine to mask the sounds of others passing by in the hallway. Crate your dog in the room, so they don’t make a mess. Find out where the “potty” areas are, take your dog there as needed, and be respectful to others.

If you are staying at someone else’s home, find out who will be there, including small children or other pets that yours has not met. Make a prediction as to how your pet will behave with all manners of strangers and come up with a plan to help make them comfortable. Keep dogs on a leash until their behavior is predictable, giving them lots of treats and praise for being quiet and relaxed. Cats will do best with their litter box and toys set up in one room, where they will stay, so they don’t have to roam through an unfamiliar home.

Should They Stay or Should They Go?

If your dog or cat is fearful of strangers, gets nauseous in the car, doesn’t like the children who will be there, or will be otherwise miserable, consider whether it would be better to leave them at home. There are pet sitters who will come to your home, which is great for cats. If your dog is not comfortable with strangers, don’t take a risk of having someone come to the home; instead, board them in a professional kennel with indoor/outdoor runs (not a “board and train” kennel), where they will be safely managed. If your pet is an Angell client, they may qualify to be boarded here.

By knowing your pet and their needs/habits, and by careful planning, you can load the dice in favor of a fun time for all.