Yes, you CAN take your pet on vacation

[Texasmujer]

You hate to leave your cat or dog at home or in a kennel while your family is on vacation, but you don't want her to be sick or anxious while you teravel. Taking ylur pet with you requires planning, so be sure to consult your veterinarian, and then follow these tips to keep your furry friend
happy on the road.

TRIPS BY CAR---To ensure a cmooth ride, find a proper pet carrier, make regular rest stops and be prepared for an emergency.

pack a first-aid kit: include pet bandages, antiseptic meicine, as well as the national poison hotline and a 24-hour emergency animal hospital near your destination

keep her secure: Cats and dogs should be in a crate secured by a seat belt or bungee cord.

take frequent breaks: Every two hours let her relieve herself and run around. Give her some food and water. Pack a pan of kitty litter for your kitty. A microchip implanted under her skin should contain ownership information; that, or have a tag with that info on her collar.

keep the window cracked, but not wide open: she could get hurt by flying debris if her head is out the window.



TRAVELING BY A PLANE: Traveling by air with a pet is easy to do with a little preparation. Call ahead to check your airline's regulations, and try to book a direct flight---you'll both be happier!

find out pet-carrier rules: Make it clear that you'll have your pet with you when you make reservations; you may be able to get and use a carrier that fite under the seat.

book direct flights: claim yyour pet on layover flights; walk and recheck her

bring health certificates: this may be required by the airlines. Also, bring a photo of your pet; have contact info attached to the pet carrier, in case you get separated.

keep her comfortable in the cargo area: The carrier shoudl be large enought o let your pet stand, turn around and lie down. Handles and ventilation holes are nice, too. The bottom can be covered with newspaper or a towel, and you can add somethng with your scent on it so your pet will be more comfortable.

provide water: Water frozen in the pet bowl will melt as it's needed--and it won't spill

don't sedate your pet: changes in altitude can cause respiraaaaaatory and heart problems (even death) in pets who have been sedated for a flight.

[WeeButtons]

Originally posted by Texasmujer
TRAVELING BY A PLANE: Traveling by air with a pet is easy to do with a little preparation. Call ahead to check your airline's regulations, and try to book a direct flight---you'll both be happier!

find out pet-carrier rules: Make it clear that you'll have your pet with you when you make reservations; you may be able to get and use a carrier that fite under the seat.

Most airlines, from all of my research do not allow this any longer. You MIGHT be able to find a flight that will allow this, but only if the pet is under 10 pounds... Doesn't seem fair if ya ask me..

Originally posted by Texasmujer
provide water: Water frozen in the pet bowl will melt as it's needed--and it won't spill.

Ok here is a shocker, when I phoned and spoke directly with the airlines, the water and food is ONLY given to the pet if they think the pet needs it. I was appalled and disgusted. They ask you to "plastic bag" the food and tape it to the top of the carrier, also proved bowls in case they need to give then water and food. Their reasons for this are to prevent the pet from needing to go Potty..

Originally posted by Texasmujer
Don’t sedate your pet: changes in altitude can cause respiraaaaaatory and heart problems (even death) in pets who have been sedated for a flight.

Aye.. They don't do this either anymore.. Well that is Continental WON’T allow it in the cause that is stated above and the fact that there might not be a Vet on board. Also if something does go wrong.. All fees are due by the pet owner.

[Polwarth]

The UK will not allow foreign pets in without a 'pet passport'. Rabies is almost unheard of here and we have very strict quarantine rules.

[WeeButtons]

Originally posted by Polwarth
The UK will not allow foreign pets in without a 'pet passport'. Rabies is almost unheard of here and we have very strict quarantine rules.

[i]
Hiya Polwarth

Yes you are correct. The "Pet Passport" procedure, thought they make it seem all so complicated online, is really not all that bad to be honest.

There are over dozens of pages to read.. links to go to, etc. and to be honest if they just numbered it one at a time as to what they want you to do, it would be a heck of a lot easier. I have phoned the "Pet Passport" people in Britian directly to go over the steps. They were extreamlly helpfull and even offered to go over the paperwork for me if I wanted to fax it, prior to taking my kitty abroad. They made me very nervous in the beginning that something would go unnoticed or wrong at the airport and take her away from me.

Also, in my entire life, I have never come across an animal with Rabies, that is an animal with 4 legs.. lol.. Rabies is not all over here in the states either, and to be fair, if its possible here, it is just as possible there. There is also a double standard if you ask me, and that is, one of the Pet Passport, actually.. the FIRST step is to have your pet fitted with a MicroChip.. however, Microchips are not standard there in the UK and not required. AND the worst part of all that Microchip business is that no UK Vet can read the Pets Chip after entrance into the UK. The chip machines are not the same in both countries therefore it is useless after entrance into the UK. They also require the Rabies shots to be done after the pet is fitted with the chip, which makes no sense to me. My kitty was given a three year rabies shot, but yet, after only her second birthday, had to be given another because the chip was not in prior to the shot. Also, I do not believe that Rabies shots are even given there, or often, but if an animal here can contract rabies, the chances are it can happen anywhere.

I guess they have a reason for everything.

The worst part of it all.. was mailing the serum sample from the animal after the rabies shot was given. The UK has designated Labs to send it to, and since it has to be delivered overnite, packed on ice, that I felt was the most stressful part.

And lastly, even after the pet is cleared of Rabies.. lol.. they still make you wait 6 months from the date the serum was drawn before entrance into the UK.. lol..

Now there are a few more things that I need to do to prepare Kitty for final boarding.. but I will cross that bridge when I get there..

[Polwarth]

Sorry - we don't want rabies, under any circumstances. We are a very small island - our wildlife (and perhaps humans) would be decimated by rabies. Now that the channel tunnel is open, it is even more imperative that we keep a tight control on import of animals - wherever they may originate from in the world.

If we do not intend to take our animals out of the country.... why on earth would we insist that all UK resident animals are microchipped? If you want to BRING IN an animal... then surely the Govt is within its rights to make the rules for foreign animals to be microchipped?

Seems an awful lot of trouble to go to in order to take a pet on holiday.

[WeeButtons]

Originally posted by Polwarth
Sorry - we don't want rabies, under any circumstances. We are a very small island - our wildlife (and perhaps humans) would be decimated by rabies. Now that the channel tunnel is open, it is even more imperative that we keep a tight control on import of animals - wherever they may originate from in the world.

If we do not intend to take our animals out of the country.... why on earth would we insist that all UK resident animals are microchipped? If you want to BRING IN an animal... then surely the Govt is within its rights to make the rules for foreign animals to be microchipped?

Seems an awful lot of trouble to go to in order to take a pet on holiday.

[i]I don't believe anyone would want Rabies.. but my point about the Microchip was that it is completelly useless after entrance into the UK.. so what is the point in having it in the first place.

For instance.. you go on holiday and your pet runs away. Even if someone finds your pet and takes it to the vet.. the chip can't be read. 'Useless'. And the point of the MicroChip here in the States is so if an animal runs away, a vet can find out the owner by scanning the chip and therefore get the wee thing back to their home. I think that reason alone should make all pet owners want to chip their pets. Pets can run away from any home, in any country .. lol..

Perhaps the companies that make the chips should have created a universal chip. The company I got for my pet was AVID.. and the customs department in Heathrow Airport has taken it upon themselves to get the chip reader in their airport for this reason alone. If they didn't, then people taking pets on Holiday would also have to bring the scanner as well.. lol.. and they run about $200 dollars

I also think the microchip is fantastic to be honest. Who ever invented it deserves a medal. I know my wee girl hates wearing her colar with her ID on it. I don't let her out of the house, but just in case. Anyway if she did get out on me by accident without the colar, she can get scanned and I will get her back.. It's pretty smart to be honest.

Also I agree, it is a lot of work just to take a pet on holiday, but if your going for a few months then it might be worth it, but for me, it is not just a holiday I am doing all this for.

Off topic.. lol.. I think in the future, doctors should come up with something like this for children.. lol.. Just think about all the missing children.. Kidnapped, run aways, etc.. It could really be useful.. No?

I know.. sounds nuts.. but hey.. I seen it in a movie or a TV show already.. I bet its in the works..

[Texasmujer]

I've read stories about pets (after being lost for years, or while moving...and relocation to another part of this country) actually returned to their owners...this is amazing; who would not like this?