I have a six-month-old puppy whom I’d like to take with me on vacation, but I’ve heard bad things about pet air travel. Are the conditions safe?
Good for you for taking your puppy on vacation with you. He or she will surely find a romp on the beach lots more fun than a kennel, or pet sitters. Besides, you’ll be relieved.
Advanced planning and proper precautions will spare you grief. Best scenario: Your puppy travels with you in the cabin. Most airlines allow one or two small animals in on a first come, first served basis. Call around and don’t reserve until you’ve found a flight to accommodate you and your puppy. Find out exactly what type of pet carrier (one with semi-rigid sides, for example) is required and any other rules.
Once you have the assurance (in writing), call to confirm the agreement well in advance of your flight. Jot down the name of every agent who’s given you information. You’ll have to stash the carrier under your seat, so don’t request the bulkhead.
If this scenario doesn’t play out you have some homework ahead. If you’re traveling in the summer then fly at night, when the plane’s cargo section is cool. You definitely want to avoid boarding a plane that sits on the tarmac for hours under the blazing sun. For a winter vacation, daytime travel’s best, when the hold is warmer. Select direct, rather than indirect flights, even if it means more moolah. Again, get all airline rules for pet transportation and agents’ names in writing.
When you determine what type of crate you’ll need, paint it in day-glo colors. Seriously. Attach huge name tags and the following warning: “Do not open without the permission of owner or vet.” Fill the crate with cushions, a favorite chewy, a water supply, and let the puppy start exploring it a few days before the trip.
Before heading to the airport, exercise your puppy and include lots of pit stops. Arrive early, and find a relatively unpopulated area for more exercise. When you check the crate, ask to speak to the ground crew. Personal contact along with slipping a box of chocolates to anyone who’ll be loading cargo will pay off in the end. Either before you board or from the plane’s window, verify that your wildly colored crate’s been loaded. If you’ve not witnessed the act with your own eyes, ask a flight attendant to check, having him or her report to you the name of your puppy (that’s where the oversized I.D. tags come in). Be sure not to reveal your pet’s name in advance. Before landing, ask the attendant (again, a little token of appreciation wouldn’t hurt) to call ahead to request that your puppy’s crate is unloaded first. Also, ask to be the first to deplane, so you can welcome your puppy at your destination.
Tranquilizers are not a good idea. Drugs will take more out of him than the flight itself. Investigate herbal solutions, such as Rescue Remedy, and try them out several weeks before your departure just to be sure your puppy responds favorably. Unless you take all the above precautions, you’ll risk your puppy’s comfort and safety. So, if this sounds daunting, have you considered the train?