Airline Pet Travel in the Cabin

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airline pet travel in cabinAirline pet travel in the cabin of the aircraft does not have to be stressful if you follow some simple rules. First of all, you must make reservations for your pet to travel with you over the phone with a representative of the airline. All airlines permit only a limited number of pets on board, and there will be a cost for you to bring your pet in the cabin with you. Be sure and make your pet’s reservation before you make your own.

Secondly, does your pet exceed the size and weight limits to travel in the cabin? Remember that airlines require that your pet be able to stand up and turn around in the carrier. Stuffing your pet into an airline compliant pet carrier that is too small will almost guarantee that neither one of you will get on the plane. Normally, a pet that exceeds 18″ from the tip of? nose to the base of the tail and 10″ high will be too large to travel in the cabin except in First Class or overseas flights. You can always call the airlines and ask what the measurements are under the seat in front of you on the aircraft that serves your route. This will help in deciding whether your pet’s carrier will fit.

Be sure to choose an airline compliant pet carrier. This carrier has a waterproof bottom and adequate ventilation. A?good pet pad is a must, especially for long flights. Many pets will eliminate out of nervousness, so it is best to have several layers of absorbent material in the carrier.

The closures must be secure so that the pet cannot escape. (Here are some beautiful zipper locks that accomplish this.) You must not take your pet out of the carrier for any reason during the flight, however, you should be able to slide the carrier out so that it will be in between your legs when the plane is in the air. Pack some favorite toys or something with your scent on it in the carrier as these things will comfort your pet.

A few days before airline pet travel, take your pet to their veterinarian for a health check up. The reason for this is to be sure that your pet has no fleas, ticks, or diseases. This is becoming important for in cabin travel because many people are allergic to fleas. Additionally, get your pet bathed and groomed. A clean pet is a comfortable pet and odor will not be a problem.

More than 4-6 hours before flying, you should feed your pet a light meal and water. Just prior to getting in the car to go to the airport, take a long walk and give your pet plenty of time to do their business and stretch their legs. Put your pet in their carrier before getting into the car and don’t remove them at the airport unless you are taking them to an airport dog park. Pets can be unpredictable in strange environments. Additionally, you will want to keep your pet calm prior to the flying on the airplane. If your pet is skittish, take along a treat and a natural herb relaxer to give them prior to the flight. This will only help keep them calm and should not affect their breathing in any way.

Do not feed them on the airplane if possible. Oftentimes, feeding will encourage bowel movement, and that would be very inconvenient for your both. If you are on a long flight, dip your finger in a little water and let your pet lick it through a small opening in the carrier for hydration. Again, do not remove your pet from the carrier as the flight attendant will ask you to put them back immediately.

When you reach your destination, try to find a quiet place and be sure and attach your pet’s leash before taking them out of the bag. Your pet will be happy to walk down the concourse with you. Get them outside as soon as possible so they can relieve themselves. As for cats, a portable kitty litter tray and an empty corner of the concourse could help. Be sure and keep them on a leash at all times when in and around the airport. Feed them only when you have arrived at your pet friendly hotel or other accommodations and no more car or bus rides are necessary.

Thousands of pets travel by air each day. Yours can do the same without a lot of fuss if you follow the airline rules and do a bit of planning beforehand.

More information on airline pet policies.

Traveling with a Comfort Animal

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traveling with a comfort dog

This blog post has changed due to an amendment by the Department of Transportation (DOT) that passed in December 2020. Due to this amendment, traveling with a comfort animal does not guarantee that your pet can fly in the cabin at no cost anymore. All animals serving disabled passengers in the cabin must be dogs (no cats, ducks, peacocks, pigs or other animals).

Related: More information on the DOT amendment

What is a comfort animal?

Comfort animals (emotional support animals or ESAs) assist their owners with mental disabilities as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Although these pet animals were recognized as providing a valuable service, they are no longer offered the protections offered to service dogs in the ACAA.

Therefore, comfort animals, including dogs, are no longer allowed to fly at no charge in the cabin as service dogs.

What is a service animal?

This amendment clearly defines a service animal as a dog that is trained to perform specific tasks for disabled passengers. Under this amendment, service dogs must perform at least one of the daily functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for themselves.

As all US-based airlines as well as those who fly in and out of the US are subject to regulations of the Airline Carrier Access Act and must accept service animals. Airlines may ask whether the service dog is accompanying the person due to a disability, and what task they perform to assist their owner. They may not ask what the disability is that the service dog is addressing, although oftentimes, this is obvious.

The dog must be clearly marked with a vest or harness identifying it as such and always leashed.

Requirements for notification may include two forms that are issued by the US DOT and notification to the airlines a minimum of 48 hours prior to departure.

The need for a service dog for a passenger who has eyesight, mobility or balance impairments is clear. Additionally, seizure alert dogs are included in this classification.  However, psychiatric needs are less defined. 

Passengers with psychiatric or medical disabilities

Recent research suggests that people with psychiatric disabilities can benefit significantly from animals. Dogs have been proven extremely effective at ameliorating the symptoms of these disabilities, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, by providing therapeutic nurture and support. It appears that some airlines are classifying dogs that provide this support as service dogs despite lack of official training.

What is expected when traveling with a service or comfort dog?

All dogs providing assistance to their owners must behave properly around other people or animals. When flying, they must not impede cabin operations and their size must allow them to fly without affecting other passengers.

Dogs must be socialized, be mannerly, and show no signs of aggression to other passengers or cabin crew.

Service dogs must be trained to perform an identifiable and necessary task for their handlers. They should provide this service consistently and not be distracted by other activity around them.

Service dogs must have an even temperament and remain calm and focused on serving their passenger.

Find more information on flying with comfort, service and therapy dogs.

Pet owners who are traveling with comfort or service dogs should notify their airlines will in advance of travel to ensure that there are no questions on travel day.

End of a long, cold winter – Pet Friendly Florida Keys Await You and Your Pet!

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Pet Friendly Florida KeysFor a tropical island vacation, look no farther than the beautiful pet-friendly Florida Keys! From Key Largo to Key West, the islands in this balmy paradise are some of the most pet friendly destinations in the United States. World-class sport fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, camping, and eco-tours are but a few of the reasons many travelers call this pet friendly tropical wonderland “The American Caribbean.”

Let’s go!

The Florida Keys are connected to the Florida mainland by US Highway 1, also known as the Overseas Highway (recently renamed the Jimmy Buffet Highway). With the majestic Atlantic Ocean on one side and the sparkling Gulf of Mexico on the other, this 113-mile-long byway was named one of the 10 most beautiful drives in the United States by the Society of American Travel Writers. The Seven Mile Bridge, one of 43 bridges on the Overseas Highway provides the perfect backdrop for viewing the Florida Keys crystalline turquoise waters and endless azure skies. This spectacular drive has numerous places to pull off for a stroll or photo with your pet.

Dive Into Fun

Driving south from Miami on the Overseas Highway, the first island traveler's encounter is pet-friendly Key Largo. Known as the Dive Capital of the World, Key Largo features fabulous John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – the first underwater park in the United States. Colorful tropical fish, dozens of species of coral, and the Statue of Christ of the Abyss are but a few of the incredible sights that snorkelers, divers, and glass bottom boat adventurers will see in this underwater wonderland. Snorkelers and divers will also enjoy exploring several nearby shipwrecks and intentionally sunk ships.

Back on terra firma, this pet-friendly park offers a unique hiking and picnicking experience in mangrove swamps and tropical hammocks.

A sampling of pet friendly hotels in Key Largo include the Reefhouse Resort & Marina, Watersides Suites & Marina and the Bayside Inn.

Further down the road 

Pet-friendly Islamorada is the next stop along the Overseas Highway. Often called the Sportfishing Capital of the World, the four islands of Islamorada host the largest fishing fleet in the world. Bonefishing and offshore game fishing are especially popular pastimes.

In addition to fishing, visitors enjoy diving, snorkeling, parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and boat racing in the aqua blue waters surrounding this tropical paradise. Islamorada’s pet friendly Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, featuring ancient fossilized coral formations, is the perfect place for a leisurely hike or picnic with your pet. Afterwards, your pet can cool off in the shallow, cool waters of Anne’s Beach.

Moving On

Next are the pet friendly Islands of Marathon, which include Long Key, the Conch Key, Duck Key, Grassy
Key, Boot Key, Crawl Key, and Pigeon Key. Considered the heart of the Florida Keys, Marathon is a family-oriented destination with educational, fun attractions like the Dolphin Research Center and the Turtle Hospital. Pet owners will enjoy relaxing in pet friendly Curry Hammock State Park, where warm ocean breezes and beautiful tropical habitat provide a welcome escape from reality. Outstanding deep sea fishing and every water sport imaginable are available in Marathon as well.

When it’s time to crash, your pet will be welcome at Gulf View Water Resort, Banana Bay and Conch Key Fishing Lodge and Marina among many others.

Keep Going

After crossing the spectacular Seven Mile Bridge from Marathon, travelers find themselves in the pet-friendly Lower Keys. With no fast-food restaurants or shopping malls, this thirty-mile stretch is arguably the most beautiful area in the Florida Keys. Pet-friendly Bahia Honda State Park is located here, which several travel magazines have called one of the most beautiful parks in the world.

Big Pine Key, another island in the Lower Keys, is widely known for the pet-friendly National Key Deer Refuge. Here, visitors will enjoy glimpses of the diminutive key deer as they stroll with their pets through undeveloped pine wilderness. Big Pine Key is also the headquarters for snorkeling trips and dive charters to amazing Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.

At the end of the road

The small island paradise of Key West is the last stop on the Overseas Highway. World-weary travelers are attracted to pet friendly Key West for its history and culture, quaint restaurants and bars, and incredible sunsets. Most importantly, people come to Key West because of its laid-back attitude. The people of the Conch Republic know that a comfortable hammock and a frozen margarita are much more fun than rush hour traffic or shoveling snow. One of the most pet-friendly cities in the United States, Key West welcomes pets with open arms.

There is no other place like pet-friendly Key West. The balmy weather is perfect for outdoor dining, so many of the bars and restaurants are pet friendly. Smaller accommodations such as chichy bed and breakfasts welcome you and your pet. If you have not been there, it is definitely worth checking out.

Pet owners will not be disappointed by the variety of pet friendly lodging options in the Florida Keys. From charming inns to luxurious resorts, Key West pet friendly hotels abound. Pet friendly dining options also abundant, as the warm, balmy tropical breezes are perfect for outside dining with your pet.

So, make your reservations today to the pet friendly Florida Keys and get ready for a fabulous, relaxing getaway! You will have many things to see and do as you meander down the islands of the Florida Keys…or you can stop someplace and do nothing at all but relax under a palm tree with a cool drink.

Pet Friendly Hotels – Be a Considerate Pet Traveler

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Pet Friendly Hotel Considerate Traveler

Need a pet-friendly hotel? Be a considerate pet traveler.
Summertime is approaching. It is time to plan for a family vacation. Unless your pet is a poor traveler or your hotel will not permit it, there is no reason to leave the family pet at home or in a kennel while you are away. Traveling with your pet is like being invited to someone’s home. If you want to be invited back, then you need to be a considerate guest.

Occasionally, pet-friendly hotels will change their pet policy. In almost every case, it is because they had a bad experience with an inconsiderate pet owner, and now all pet travelers will have to suffer for the sins of one.

MAKING A RESERVATION WITH A PET-FRIENDLY HOTEL

Confirm with the hotel in advance the size and type of pet that will be accompanying the owner. A hotel may state that they are pet-friendly, but if a traveling pet owner shows up with a 100-pound dog, they may find that the hotel limits their guests to small pets. Also, a certificate of good health and vaccination record may be required by the hotel in order to certify that your pet does not have ticks, fleas, or any diseases communicable to humans.

If a cat is traveling with a pet owner, contacting the pet-friendly hotel is crucial. Many hotels do not accept cats due to the allergies caused by the dander. Additionally, the risk of damage from cat claws is a concern for many pet-friendly hotel owners.

Whether traveling by car or plane with a pet, get them bathed and groomed prior to traveling. A clean pet is more comfortable when confined, which will likely happen when traveling.

CHECKING IN

Remind the desk clerk that you will have a pet in your room, and they need to notify the housekeepers. A Pet in the Room door hanger is also a great way to alert hotel staff.

INTRODUCTIONS

After entering the room, allow the pet to get accustomed to its surroundings. Show it where the water and food will be located. If your pet is allowed on beds and furniture at home, be sure to cover the hotel’s furniture with a sheet or blanket for protection.

LEAVING YOUR PET ALONE IN THE ROOM

Do not leave a pet alone in the room unless the errand is only a minute or two. Many pet-friendly hotels will not permit leaving a pet alone in a room, even when crated. Put up the Do Not Disturb sign on the door when leaving.

If your dog is not accustomed to traveling, it is best not to leave them for any amount of time. A barking dog can be a major disturbance for other guests. If absence is necessary, ask at the desk if there is a trusted person they could recommend to sit with your pet.

If a pet accompanies an owner in the car, it is important to avoid leaving them in the car alone, especially in the summer when temperatures can climb in a matter of minutes. If there is no other alternative, keep the car in the shade, open the windows several inches, and make the errand as short as possible.

TAKING YOUR PET FOR A WALK

The front desk should be able to recommend a good place to walk your pet. Take along not one but two litter bags, and use them.

SADLY, NOT EVERYONE LOVES PETS

When on the street or in the pet-friendly hotel’s common areas, make sure a pet is securely leashed and be aware that not everyone loves animals. Pets should be kept close to their owners and not allowed to approach others unless both the dog and the other person (or animal) is comfortable with the meeting.

CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR PET

Always return the room to the order in which you found it. Be considerate of the next guest and the management of the hotel.

Best of all, doing these things will encourage your favorite pet-friendly hotel to keep its policies and be available for other pet travelers to enjoy.

Pet Hotel in Florida Boards Pets of Seniors in Need of Medical Care

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Kudos to the late Jimmy Scarborough and his wife Pat, who, through their unending efforts, founded Jimmy’s Place in central Florida. Health officials were finding that many seniors are so attached to their pets that they would refuse treatment because they had no care for their loving pets. Jimmy’s Place is a pet hotel for pets whose elderly masters need medical attention. There is space for short-term pet care for up to 10 pets in the facility, which is sponsored by the Osceola County Council on Aging.

It is well known that the company of pets contributes to a greater sense of well-being in seniors. Having their pet cared for when they are in the hospital is a great comfort. This is the first pet hotel of its kind in the state. We hope that other areas will consider this type of facility when dealing with pet care for the elderly.

For more details, visit the story: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/os-osceola-council-on-aging-pet-hotel-20100308,0,2563742.story

Traveling with a Dangerous Dog Breed

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Travel with Pit Bull

Planning a trip with your Pit Bull? Relocating to a foreign country with your Rottweiler? You had better know the rules on entering a country with an breed of dog that may be classified as aggressive. The consequences for your pet could be pretty severe.

There is no disputing the fact that traveling with a dog has become a more popular trend in recent years. Countries that value tourism, as well as airlines that value additional revenue, have made it easier for pet owners to see the world with their pets. Yet, even with the emergence of in-cabin privileges, more careful cargo handling, and the avoidance of incidents, comes the increased enforcement of certain rules regarding the movement of aggressive types of dogs.

What dog breeds are generally classified as dangerous?

American Staffordshire Terriers top the list. Why? Because in studies where the number of dog bites was measured, this breed is almost always at the top. Does this mean that your Staffie is dangerous? No, this breed can be trained and properly socialized. But numbers being what they are, the breed is included in most, if not all, dangerous dog laws that are breed-specific.?

Other dog breeds that are generally classified as dangerous are Akita Inu, Barboels, Cane Corso, American Bulldog, Dog de Bordeaux, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, German Shepherd, Mastiff, Presa Canario, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Tosa Inu.

UPDATE: The United Kingdom has added the XL American Bulldog to its Dangerous Dog legislation.

Also confusing is the term Pit Bull Terrier. Actually, this term includes several recognized breeds of dogs – American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier and may include the American Bulldog.

What countries ban dangerous dog breeds?

Many countries, provinces, counties, and cities ban the import of aggressive breeds of dogs and their mixes. Some examples are the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, China, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and many Caribbean countries, to name just a few.

We suggest you search for dangerous dog policies in your destination country. You can also contact the embassy of the country to which you are traveling to determine if your dog is acceptable for entry.

Know that if your dog even resembles one of these breeds or behaves in any way aggressively during the immigration process, there is a chance that your pet will not be accepted in your destination country.

DNA testing will not be accepted as proof of lineage as it is not performed at a government agency.

At a minimum, you should carry a strong leash and muzzle with you, as many countries will require this while you are in public places. Also, do not trust your children to hold the leash. Strong movements can happen suddenly in strange places.

What airlines ban aggressive dog breeds?

When countries ban aggressive breeds, it also means that the airlines that serve those countries must ban the breeds on routes to those countries. Airlines will not carry a pet into a country when the pet does not have the proper import forms or is on the banned breed list. The consequences of ignoring this list can be distressing at the least and disastrous at the worst. Should a dog on the banned breed list make it to immigration, in most cases it will be returned to the originating country at the owner’s expense; however, in some cases, the animal will be put down.

In recent years, commercial airlines have also initiated bans or restrictions on dog breeds classified as aggressive to limit their exposure to “incidents.”. No US-based airline will fly them. Other foreign-based airlines will (Lufthansa, KLM, and Air France, for example); however, they may require that your dog fly in a CR-82-compliant metal or wood pet crate.

If you are flying with your dog, be sure to arrange not to change airline companies along the way. Airlines will not interline pets. Arrangements must be made for you or an agent to get your pet, clear customs, and recheck your dog on the next airline.

More information on traveling with a dangerous dog…

Pet Friendly Destination – Santa Fe New Mexico

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Pet friendly Santa Fe is surrounded by thousands of acres of pristine wilderness in the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Here, visitors will find miles of pet friendly trails through meadows of Indian paintbrush and purple lupine, leading to stunning mountaintop panoramas. Pet owners might also enjoy exploring the remains of the once-thriving Pueblo civilization, including an impressive number of historic pueblos and cliff dwellings.

Other popular outdoor activities in the area include golf, mountain biking, river rafting, horseback riding, fishing, hot air ballooning, and swimming. Ski Santa Fe, which opens from Thanksgiving until Easter, features one of the highest ski areas in the continental United States and offers unsurpassed mountaintop vistas. Skiers will appreciate the steep bump runs, powder filled chutes, gladed tree skiing, and abundance of groomers.

After an invigorating day in Santa Fe, visitors can whet their appetites at many fine restaurants serving innovative Southwestern cuisine. Evening entertainment options range from live musical theater and nationally renowned opera to flamenco dancing and exciting casino action. Afterwards, visitors might enjoy a warm bath and a nightcap in their pet friendly accommodations, which include contemporary boutique hotels, budget-friendly motels with Southwestern flair, charming bed and breakfasts, luxurious resorts with full-service spas, and numerous campgrounds and RV parks with views of dazzling sunsets.

As one of America?s oldest and most beautiful cities, pet friendly Santa Fe has something for everyone. Its resplendent landscapes, world-class art, superb cuisine, incredible shopping, exciting entertainment, abundant outdoor activities, and stimulating history and culture invariably make visitors wish they had more time to spend there. It?s truly a dream pet friendly vacation destination.

More information on pet friendly Santa Fe and many other pet friendly hotels in great destinations can be found at PetTravel.com.

10th Anniversary of the Pet Travel Scheme – Avoid Quarantine entering the UK

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Pet Travel SchemeToday (March 2, 2010) is the 10th anniversary of the Pet Travel Scheme which was originally championed by Lady Mary Fretwell. For more than 100 years prior to the approval of the Pet Travel Scheme, the United Kingdom had a strictly enforced quarantine program in effect. Bring in a dog, cat, guinea pig or rabbit, and they had to spend six months in one of 80 quarantine kennels in Great Britain, with virtually no exercise and with only the kennels’ contracted veterinarians to check them out. There were no uniform statutes governing these kennels–the kennel owners voluntarily agreed to provide respectable care, but this often was lacking.

“My husband was in the Foreign Service, so this meant that each time we returned to England from a post our basset hound had to go through that awful quarantine,” says Lady Mary Fretwell. “Over the years, we could see how the quarantine conditions got worse and worse.”

The final straw came in 1987, when Lady Mary and Sir John Fretwell returned to England from their final post in Paris. “We came back with our basset hound,” Lady Fretwell says, “and it was a terrible quarantine experience. Our beloved Bertie, our favorite of all the bassets we’ve had over the years, was a different dog after this horrible experience, and died soon afterwards. This pushed us into doing something about the quarantine situation in the UK.”

The result was an organization called “Passports for Pets,” and because of the untiring efforts by the Fretwells and 10,000 members and many volunteers who pushed for changes in the pet entry system, there is now in place a specific method of bringing cats and dogs into the UK without going through quarantine.

A happy note is that over 10,000 pets have been brought into the UK without any incident of rabies since the inception of the program as of the 10th anniversary. The Pet Travel Scheme was certainly a victory for pets traveling to the UK!

Updated information on bringing a pet to the UK.

Eurostar Pet Policy being challenged by champion for pet’s rights in Britain

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EurostarThose of you who travel by rail in Britain are familiar with Eurostar, a rail system owned by Britain, France, and Belgium. Lady Fretwell, who championed for the Pet Scheme (allowing pet owners to prepare in advance to bring their pets to Britain thus avoiding quarantine at entry) has taken on the fight to allow pets on board. As stated in TheMoveChannel.com, “Lady Fretwell described the situation as “ludicrous” especially as people and their pets are allowed to travel on trains across the Continent and dog owners in Britain are free to take their pets on the Tube and on regional railways.”

Find more about Eurostar’s pet policy here: https://help.eurostar.com/faq/us-en/question/Can-I-take-my-pet-on-Eurostar

Update: Eurostar currently does not permit pets with the exception of guide or assistance animals. Eurostar does not accept emotional support animals.

For information on pet friendly trains in the EU.