Summer is only a few months away. Summer vacation planning should begin as soon as possible, especially if you have pets in your home. Should you arrange to have someone stay with your pet or send him to a boarder? Or, should you make arrangements to bring your furry friend along? Many families opt for the true family vacation, which means bringing even the four-legged members.
While some families opt for traveling by plane, this can be particularly stressful on your animal. In fact, several airlines have modified their pet travelling statutes in an effort to reduce the number of flying-induced injuries and deaths to animals which have skyrocketed over the past few years. While this spike in deaths of animals could simply be due to the fact that more people every year are bringing their animals with them on vacation, airline companies strive to provide the very best service to passengers and some have strict, only-in-cargo-hold travel restrictions pertaining to all pets.
Planning a vacation near enough to your home that you are able to drive your car is a wonderful alternative; however, there is still preparation to be done to ensure that both you and your dog will have an enjoyable time.
First, call ahead to see what venues and hotel chains allow pets to stay with their owners. Those that do may charge a fee per stay or per day, and this fee may or may not be refundable. Also, if your pet barks or causes other disruption to other guests, your pet can be expelled. Be aware that these policies can change, so calling the hotel directly and obtaining confirmation before your vacation can save a headache upon arrival.
If you don’t already, bring your dog with you on short trips around town to get him or her accustomed to traveling in the vehicle. Gradually lengthen the time of the drive and monitor your pet’s happiness overall.
Vacationing with your pet can be a rewarding experience with proper planning. With your pet’s comfort at the top of the list, your family vacation will be memorable.
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