Page 24 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - July 2019 - 26-07

Page 24 Senior Times - July 2019
TRAVEL SAFELY WITH YOUR PET
By: Sherii Sherban, Publisher
Before you choose to bring your beloved pets when you travel consid-
er how much time you will actually be spending with them. Unless you'll be able to commit a significant amount of time with them, they will probably be happier at home than tagging along on your trip.
to you, but it's too long to leave your pet in a car by himself. Threats exist from the theft of your family pet to the hazards of heat.
But if you have decided it's best to bring your pet along, the safest and most comfort- able way for pets to travel is inside a carrier or crate. Before you leave visit your vet to be sure all vaccinations are up to date, then buy a carrier, and start to get them used to it.
should always be kept safely inside the car to prevent injury from particles of debris
or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.
Traveling by airplane with pets. Air travel can be a quick way to get your pet from one place to another, but you should know that every airline has different rules about transporting pets. And do not buy your ticket until you confirm that there is room for your pet. It is best to fly direct. Book early.
When traveling by car leave the front seat for humans. Pets should stay in the back seat. If an airbag deploys (even in a crate), it might injure your pet that travels in the front.
Schedule plenty of rest stops. Stop fre- quently to allow your pet to exercise and eliminate. But never permit your pet to leave the car without a collar, ID tag, and leash.
Air travel is discouraged and is particu- larly dangerous for animals with "pushed in" faces (the medical term is "brachycephalic"), such as bulldogs, pugs, and Persian cats. Their short nasal passages leave them espe- cially vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke.
Traveling by ship with your pet. With the exception of assistance dogs, pets are welcome on only a few cruise lines – and usually on ocean crossings only. Some lines permit pets in private cabins, but most con- fine pets to kennels. Contact your cruise
line in advance to find out which ships have kennel facilities. If you must use the ship's kennel, make sure it is protected from the elements and check on your pet frequently.
Crate pets when traveling in the car.
Bring along a human buddy. Whenever possible, share the driving and pet caretak- ing duties with a friend or family member. You'll be able to get food or use the facilities at rest stops knowing that someone you trust is keeping a close eye on your pets.
The safest way for your dog to travel in the car is in a crate that has been anchored to the vehicle using a seatbelt or other secure means. Dog restraints or seat belts are use- ful for preventing your dog from roaming around the car and being a distraction to the driver, but they haven't been reliably shown to protect dogs during a crash.
When it's 72 degrees Fahrenheit out- side, the temperature inside your car can heat up to 116 degrees within an hour. On an 85-degree day, even with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside your car can reach 102 degrees in just 10 min- utes. If you're held up for 30 minutes, you may return to a car that's 120 degrees inside and a pet who is suffering irrevers- ible organ damage or death.
Traveling by train with your pet.
As a rule, cats are almost always better off in their own home. Most cats aren't com- fortable traveling in cars, so for their safety as well as yours, keep them in a carrier. It's important to restrain these carriers in the
car so that they don't bounce around and hurt your cat. Do this by securing a seat belt around the front of the carrier.
Amtrak recently announced that they are now allowing pets up to 20 pounds to trav- el with their pet parents on all routes in
the Midwest. A maximum of five pets are allowed per train, so reserving a seat well in advance is encouraged. Service animals do not count toward this limit.
Keep those heads inside! Dogs and cats
Don't ever leave your pet alone in a car.
For more ideas for safe travels with your pets visit www.dogfriendly.com.
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