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Travel Tips
Travelling By Air
As a general rule, travelling with a pet can be an enjoyable,
problem-free experience, provided that adequate planning and
preparation are taken prior to departure. As air travel can
sometimes be traumatic for an animal, here are some helpful
guidelines to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for your pet:
- Contact the airline you intend to use well in advance (3 months in
advance is recommended) to verify services, check regulations and
book reservations. Ensure that you are able to meet airline
requirements and specifications before showing up for your flight.
- Always have current health and rabies vaccination papers readily
available while travelling.
- Use an approved air travel carrier, which can be purchased from
the airline, an animal hospital or a pet store. Allow your pet to
familiarize itself with the carrier prior to the trip, so that it
begins to identify the carrier as a safe, recognizable environment.
Ensure all screws on the carrier are tight and that it is clearly
labeled " Live Animal" and "This End Up" The carrier must be large
enough for your pet to stand up in, turn around and lie down. Place
something with a familiar scent in the carrier to calm your pet (A
tee shirt or socks of a family member are commonly used). Airlines
also require that carriers contain some sort of absorbent, cushiony
material for the animal to lie on.
- Feed your pet a light meal a few hours prior to departure and a
drink of water before boarding. Pets should be accompanied by ample
food and water during their trip. A couple of zip lock bags filled
with food, taped to the side of the carrier works well. A full water
dish, which has been placed in the freezer, is ideal as the water
does not slosh around and stays fresh during the trip.
- Food and water dishes must be securely attached and easily
accessible to allow airline staff to care for your pet without
opening the carrier. Instructions for feeding and watering your pet
should be attached to the carrier should staff need to provide
extended care in cases where the flight is inadvertently averted
from its original destination.
- Be sure to exercise your pet before arrival.
- During hot weather seasons, fly early in the morning or late in
the evening when temperatures are cooler. This will make the flight
much more comfortable for your pet.
- Schedule flights with a minimum of stops and transfers. The less
moving around in an unfamiliar environment, the better. Direct
flights also minimize the risk of missed baggage connections and
your pet carrying on to an extended destination by itself.
- Try to reserve mid-week flights, and thereby avoid peak travel
periods.
- Whenever possible, try to fly with airlines which will manually
carry your pet to and from the plane(s). Bumpy rides on baggage
carts and/or conveyor belts can lead to increased stress for your
pet.
- Once your flight details have been confirmed, arrive at the
airport early. Airline pet space is at a premium and is sometimes
offered only on a first come, first served, basis.
- When proceeding through airline security with a pet, you will be
required to have the carrier scanned. Under these circumstances, you
will have to physically remove your pet from the carrier, at which
point it may become fearful and skittish. Ensure you have a strong
leash, identification tags and collar on your pet at all times
should it get away from you at the airport.
- Never tranquilize a pet without first consulting a veterinarian,
particularly when travelling by air. Sedation can occasionally
result in cardiovascular and respiratory problems due to the change
in altitude. Unless your pet is travelling in the cabin, administer
such medication only on the advice of a veterinarian.
- Airlines generally do their best to unload "live" cargo first. As
soon as your pet is in the baggage claim area you should try to
immediately attach its leash and take it outside for a "bathroom
break', a short run, a stretch and a favorite treat. The most
efficient way to do this is to have one person collect the pet and
have someone else look after luggage, rental car, etc. To expedite
this process, the person collecting the pet should have the claim
tickets, their name on the sticker on top of the cage, and a
driver's license ready for identification purposes.
- All countries have their own rules and regulations for allowing
animals enter their borders. Almost all areas require rabies shots
at least a month in advance of entering, with proper papers
documenting this information. Pets Can Stay does not attempt
to provide detailed information about a country's quarantine and
vaccination rules as these details change from country to country,
and often from month to month. In order to avoid the risk of
outdated information, please contact your vet, airline, or the
customs office in the country you are travelling to. Do not assume
that the information which was valid when you made the same trip a
year ago is still valid; be sure to obtain recent updated
information. Do not forget to check regulations for re-entry as
well. You may be able to get out of the country with your pet but
not necessarily comply for present re-entry regulations. Always
check before leaving. |
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