FOR PETS STAYING HOME:
For stressed-out pets, finding a pet sitter may be least disruptive and your best alternative. Meet with the sitter several times in your home, if you can, before you go.
If you choose to board, thoroughly tour the loacation and meet with pet handlers first.
Leave detailed instructions and emergency info for caregivers. Do a reference check.
FOR PETS ON THE GO:
If your pet has not had experience with long-distance travel or is going to an extreme climate, consult with your vet, to make sure that the pet will be adaptable.
For plane travel, avoid connecting flights. If this isn't possible, try to connect in a temperate location to reduce exposure to cold or heat. Check to make sure your pet made the same connection as you did. A small pet (less than 20 lbs) in a carrier usually can be stowed under the seat. Owners are limited to one pet per ticket. Some airlines restrict the number of pets to one or two per cabin, so call early. No more than 10 days before travel, get a certificate from the vet verifying that the pet is healthy, and ask about meds for motion sickness or anxiety. MAKE SURE YOUR PET IS WEARING AN IDENTIFICATION TAG.
In a car, stop for water and exercise every two to four hours. Never leave a pet unattended. Give the animal purified or distilled water to avoid tummy upset.
Many hotels and motels do not allow pets. Be sure to confirm that your pet is welcome.
If your pet gets sick while traveling, call the American Animal Hospital Association toll-free at 1-800-252-2242 from 9 am to 5 pm Mountain Time to get the location of a nearby AAHA veterinary clinic.
At 512 pages, the "Travel With or Without Pets Guide" features advice from experts. One of them suggests that when traveling in a car with a dog, keep the pet comfortable in a crate or install pet seat belts. If transporting a dog by air, make him or her comfortable in the weeks leading up to the trip by giving treats and placing toys in the crate. "A crate can be like a den for a dog," says the expert.
The staff of the above guide will answer your questions via email: petexpert@rocketmail.com
For more information on pet travel, visit the American Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals web site at http://www.aspca.org
A note from a non-expert, but dog -loving list owner: :-) An already crate-trained dog will make a much better traveler, for they will welcome, and be used to, their little dens while in transit. Happy Traveling and Happy Holidays! Jeannie