Flying the 'Furry' Skies? Want to Avoid a 'Ruff' Road Trip?

Travel Tips to Pet Lovers before the Start of Vacation Season

New York—In a few weeks, the Memorial Day weekend will kick off the unofficial start of the travel season, and families around the country will head to airports to board flights to exotic destinations, or pack up the car for fun-filled road trips. But before you bring along your four-legged friends, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) wants to remind animal lovers and pet parents of some helpful travel tips for those busy summer months.

“More and more, pets are becoming an important part of our families, so it’s only natural that pets are being included in the summer vacation plans,” said ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres. “But it’s important to keep certain things in mind before taking your animal companions along on flights or long car trips. That will ensure your pet’s safety, as well as make the trip an enjoyable one for everyone.”

Here are just some of the ways animal lovers can travel safely with their pets this summer:

For smooth air travel with your pet:

Make sure to use proper pet identification. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and an identification tag. The collar should include destination information in case your pet escapes. Also, attach a current photograph of your pet to the top of the crate for identification purposes. If your pet escapes from the carrier, this could be a lifesaver. You should also carry a photograph of your pet. On the top of the crate, write the name, address and telephone number of your pet’s destination point, and whether you will be accompanying him or if someone else is picking him up.
Handle with care. Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate—it should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit and turn around in comfortably. Shipping crates can be purchased from many pet supply stores and airlines. Also, write the words ”Live Animal“ in letters at least one inch tall on top of and at least one side of the crate, and use arrows to prominently indicate the upright position of the crate.
Keep them as comfortable as possible. Book a direct flight whenever possible. This will decrease the chances that your pet is left on the tarmac during extreme weather conditions or mishandled by baggage personnel. Also, the night before you leave, make sure you’ve frozen a small dish or tray of water for your pet. This way, it can’t spill during loading, and will melt by the time she’s thirsty.

For smooth road trips with your pet:

Give them a secure and comfortable “seat.” Keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. There are a variety of mesh, wire, and plastic carriers available. Again, make sure it’s large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. And give your pet time to get used to the carrier in the comfort of your home before your trip.
Keep them cool when it’s hot. Never leave your animal alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can develop. And don’t forget about water! Bring along plenty of your own bottled water or tap water from home stored in plastic jugs. Drinking water they’re not used to could result in stomach upset for your pets.
Traveling across state lines? Bring along your pet’s rabies vaccination record, as some states requires this proof at certain interstate crossings. While this generally isn’t a problem, it’s always smart to be on the safe side. It’s also always good to make sure your pet has a collar with an ID tag imprinted with your home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number, and any other relevant contact information.

Provided by the American Society of the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org