Traveling with pets this holiday season
Important Travel Checklists
With Thanksgiving weekend approaching us and the North Pole Express right on its tail, we oftentimes find ourselves getting ready for a season of traveling to visit family and friends. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, traveling 50 miles and up increases by 23% during Christmas and New Year's, and a whoppin' 54% over Thanksgiving weekend! While that's certainly fine and dandy for us people, but what about those who own pets?
Now, according to Travel Agent Central, while 37% of the 500 dog owners have responded that they skipped their holidays to spend with their dogs at home, about the same number of paw-rents chose to drive to their destination with their pets rather than take an airplane. (Check this out: the other 10% hid their dogs in their luggage to sneak into a hotel room, and shockingly, 3% of them admitted that they attempted unsuccessfully — emphasis on unsuccessfully — to bring their dogs on a plane disguised as a baby. Seriously, haven't they heard about a thing called X-ray machines?)
Anyways, if you fall under a broad category of pet owners who opt to travel with your pets during this holiday season, it might be worth it to take care of some things before hitting the road.
Identification
It's never a bad idea to have your pet's identification properly marked — preferably in a form of a small photo tag with all of the identifying information: name, gender, breed, address, and contact info. Also, make sure to keep the information updated on your pet's collar tag and microchip as well (if available).
Health
Get their health checkup and make sure to stay on top of his/her vaccination requirements. It's also not a bad idea to have your pets' health records at hand as well, just so you have it if you need to make an emergency stop at the vet's office while out of town.
Pet Gear
So many things to keep track of — food/water, medications, favorite toys, blankets, towels, pet wipes, poop bags, etc. Keep them neatly organized in separate compartments within the bag so you can easily access them and remember where they're at. In fact, we have just the right kind of bag for you!
First Aid Kit
This goes without saying, but keep a first aid kit close to you for pets especially if you plan on driving or going on outdoor excursions for extended periods of time. (You probably already have one for yourself, so why not for your four-legged family members as well?) In a remote area without readily accessible cell service or hospitals nearby, it might be the only thing that keeps your pet alive if — heaven forbid — your pet suffered an injury and needed immediate medical assistance. But where do you find such a kit that has everything that's tailored for your pet? Well, here's your answer.