As you start to think about your next vacation with your family, you will have a big decision to make: should you bring your pet or not on your trip? Many people often make the decision to not leave their pets behind, but this comes with a large number of wrinkles that need to be considered. Consider all of the following options before booking extra travel items for your beloved family pet.
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Can You Bring Pets on Public Transportation?
First and foremost, it’s important to cover whether or not bringing pets on transportation is even allowed. Unless your pet is a service animal, the choice is ultimately up to whoever runs the transportation you’re using. Most planes will allow pets to be taken onboard as well as trains. In fact, over 2 million pets are flown over the United States on a yearly basis, making it a common way for pets to travel.
However, it’s important to note that pet owners need to make a reservation for their pet on a plane or train and cannot simply bring it on as “luggage”.
5 Considerations to Keep in Mind
In addition to remembering to make the above reservation, there are also five considerations that a person needs to keep in mind when planning on bringing their pet on vacation:
1. You may need to book a vacation rental
Hotels tend to be far stricter when it comes to allowing pets with most hotels have serious restrictions against it. Rather than risking violating the rules of your hotel and getting kicked out, consider staying in a vacation rental. For example, there are a number of Melbourne Beach, Florida vacation rentals right on the water with large backyards where your pet can handle business. Just be sure the owner allows pets and always clean up any mess your pet leaves behind.
2. You will need to pack all of your pet’s supplies
Traveling can be a strenuous time for pets as there is a large amount of chaos. Be sure to pack everything they may need to handle this, such as a travel bed, stuffed animals, stress toys, ample food, and more before you take off for your trip.
3. You should ensure your pet’s crate is identifiable
While it’s something you hope never happens, it’s possible that your animal could get lost in transit if they are staying in the cargo hold or somewhere similar. Be sure that your contact information is clearly visible on their crate and that the crate is visually identifiable so you can see where it is in the airport or train station.
4. You should inform all the proper people that you’re traveling with a pet
Showing up with a pet may seem like a fun idea that people will love, but not everybody is a pet person. Call your hotel in advance or your vacation rental owner in to ask if this is okay, especially if it’s a last-minute decision. Additionally, if you’re going on any activities, don’t just assume pets will be allowed. Instead, call in advance to double-check so that you don’t accidentally lose money on something that was non-refundable.
5. You should get your animal checked up prior to leaving
You may personally believe that your pet is healthy enough to travel, but it’s best to trust the opinion of a veterinarian who can double-check this on your behalf. Take your pet to the vet ahead of your vacation and ask if they are cleared to travel. Additionally, ask your veterinarian for any tips on calming your pet down if they seem to be overwhelmed by the chaos that comes with travel. They may be able to provide medication or general advice that will help in your situation.
By using the above five tips, you can ensure that your pet is allowed to go wherever you are while on vacation. On top of this, you may also just pick up a few ways in which you can be a better owner by ensuring your pet remains calm.
Bring your pet on your next family vacation
Rather than leaving your pet in a kennel or with a pet-sitter for an extended amount of time, consider bringing them with you on your next vacation to enjoy the fun! Your pet doesn’t need to be left at home so long as you take the proper precautions in advance. Use all of the above in order to effectively plan a vacation
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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