Dog Days of Summer

Summer vacation plans are made, the bags are packed, the car is filled with gas, coolers are full of snacks and drinks for the trip, and maps are tucked into the sun visor. Yet, there is that ever present feeling that something has been forgotten.

The “thing” is Fluffy or Rover. When traveling with pets, which more and more families are doing, it is vital to prepare in advance.  It isn’t simply a matter of loading the dogs and cats into the car and driving away. 

Make sure your pets are up to date on their vaccinations and carry a copy of their shot record. Also have contact information for your family veterinarian in case of a medical emergency.

Add supplies to the family first aid kit to include pet related items such as flea and tick, and heartworm prevention and treatments, heavy gloves, and pet medications (for motion sickness or sedatives).

When traveling with animals take their disposition into consideration. Do they travel well or are they excitable? Check with your veterinarian about sedatives for pets that do not like riding in a car or plane. Make a trial run with the medication before your trip to determine how your pet tolerates sedatives.

An individual carrier or crate for each pet can be a good idea, especially on long road trips. They are also required at hotels and airlines.

If traveling by air, in most cases, pets can travel in the cabin. Pet carriers are considered carry-on baggage, and according to the Federal Aviation Administration, must meet all carry-on requirements regarding size, weight and storage. Check with the airline when making travel arrangements about specific pet policies.

Once on the plane, be aware that federal law prohibits you from taking your pet out of its carrier while in flight.

For more tips on traveling by air with your pets check out these resources:

• Department of Transportation
• Department of Agriculture
• American Veterinarian Medical Association

While on your trip, remember to bring plenty of fresh water, food and treats, a can opener and spoon (if needed for food), bedding or a blanket, proof of ownership, and a photo of your pets.

A wide variety of major hotel and motel chains are animal-friendly facilities. Pets are welcome, but most do have specific restrictions on size and type of pet – usually limited to dogs and sometimes cats. A damage deposit – which can vary from a single-stay fee to a per-day, per-pet charge – is required at many hotels and is often non-refundable. These deposits are usually around $25 per night or $100 for the entire stay.

Typically, there is also a size limit on which pets are allowed in the hotel. Most restrict their furry lodgers to 25-30 pounds or less. Some also limit the stay to dogs only – sorry cat lovers. Larger dogs may still be allowed, but a higher damage deposit may be required.

Each chain, and to some extent each individual hotel, has its own policies regarding pets in the room. Visitors can be asked to leave if the pet is too noisy, and some chains require that pets not be left unattended or otherwise require the pet be in a crate. All require that pets be on a leash when outside.
 
Always call ahead and confirm the hotel’s pet policy and remember to declare you are traveling with a pet when making reservations.

The majority of the hotels and motels owned by the following chains are pet-friendly:

• Holiday Inn
• Holiday Inn Express
• Days Inn
• La Quinta
• Travelodge
• Best Western
• Super 8 Hotel
• Motel 6
• Hampton Inn
• Marriott (Resident Inn)
• Howard Johnson
• AmeriSuites
• Red Roof

Other chains also welcome pets on a by-site basis. Call ahead to confirm the hotel's pet policy:

• Comfort Inn
• Ramada Inn
• Radisson Inn
• Hyatt
• Hilton
• Sheraton
• Crowne Plaza
• Econo Lodge

Also, most Florida State Parks allow camping with pets.

Evacuating with Pets

Especially for residents of Gulf Coast states, summer is more than vacation time. Vacation plans give way to emergency evacuation plans. The same preparations can also be used in the case of disasters.

If there is any validity to the predictions by several weather experts, the 2006 Hurricane Season - which officially began June 1 - could rival last year's record-breaking storm numbers.

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest storms to ever hit the US, was responsible for the deaths of thousands of pets and farm animals. Many of these animals had to be left behind in the frantic rush to evacuate flooded areas.

While most emergency shelters are not equipped to serve our furry family members, the same hotels that welcome you and your pet in fair weather will still be there in foul, offering a refuge during a storm.

These agencies offer resources for emergency planning for pets, including brochures with recommendations for emergency supplies, pet-friendly hotels, and evacuation plan checklists.

• The American Veterinary Medical Association – offers a booklet full of valuable information on how to prepare family pets for evacuation in case of a natural disaster
• The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – lists emergency shelters for horses and other livestock
• Department of Homeland Security – provides a brochure that highlights the key steps pet owners should take to prepare themselves and their animals
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – provides disaster preparedness resources for household pets and horses