The Pet Page By Kimberly Carlson
Traveling with Pets My family starts getting the traveling bug somewhere around Valentine’s Day and is in a fever pitch by the time spring break rolls around, resurfacing again during the summer. Last year we packed our bags and loaded up the car for a road trip to the west coast in search of warmth and a little adventure. We had a unique traveling companion on that trip: my son’s science experiment. My future paleontologist was studying triops. These unusual little guys look a bit like trilobites and are supposed to be fairly easy to care for. This might be true… if you’re not traveling by car for five days. You see, as babies, they need to be placed under a heat lamp until they hatch and then fed from a dropper. Not easy to accomplish when traveling on the freeway and not plugged in. If you are like my best friend, you probably take your dogs with you when you go camping or fishing. There are some dogs and cats that love trips in the car, long or short. But did you know that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you need to have a valid health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of travel when you cross state borders with your pets? In addition, “All animals crossing state borders to a cold weather destination are required to have a veterinarian’s note on the health certificate that they are acclimated to temperatures below 45 degrees F.” Before you head out on your next trip with your pets, here are a few things
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to keep in mind:
Road Trips • Proper identification. Make sure your pets have proper I.D. – and not just with your contact information, but also that of a neighbor or a friend – in case you lose your pet. You might not be easy to get a hold of while on vacation. Carlene Wall, Director of Operations at the Humane Society of Utah recommends two forms of I.D. “A microchip I.D. should be a backup I.D.” she says. “People will see a dog or a cat with a collar on and immediately know that is a pet that belongs to someone.” Many local pet stores have tag I.D. machines. The Humane Society of Utah can do both: they can facilitate a microchip in addition to an I.D. tag. • Accommodations and records. In addition to the health certificate required
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, some hotels require certified records for your pet. Call ahead; make sure you have everything the pet-friendly hotel or hostel needs, and they have everything your pet will need. • Safety first. Be sure to pack proper restraints: leashes, pet beds that have the right seat-belt-friendly straps. Larger dogs will do better in crates or cages, smaller cats and dogs will do better in carriers. Make time for stops. Add extra time for potty breaks and wiggle-time. “Start early,” cautions Wall. “Allow for a lot of potty breaks and time to get their energy out – they’re just like little kids.” Stop at Rest Stops along the way and play a game or two of fetch or let them explore and stretch their legs.
Flying with Pets Each airline has their own regulations for flying with pets.