Pet Safety when traveling and at home

According to the North American Pet Insurance Survey over 68% of Americans own pets and this translates into over 85 million families.   A large number of these owners have a dog or cat who they enjoy traveling with.  These pets typically are considered a family member and thus usually are treated as a vibrant part of the nuclear family dynamic.

As a dog owner I was horrified to hear of two separate incidents last week with United Airlines concerning pet travel.  In the first a flight attendant forced a passenger to put her 9 month old puppy in the overhead storage cabinet on a flight going from Houston to New York.  Although if it were me I would have asked to speak with the pilot or would have gotten off the flight, I am not writing to pass judgement on the passenger but to point out the inherent dangers of pet travel.  On the second incident a German Shepard was accidentally flown to Japan instead of its domestic destination of I believe Akron Ohio.

I have put together some travel tips for those planning to travel with a pet.  The Wall Street Journal had a useful article today with many suggestions if you must fly although ultimately recommends making alternative arrangements if you are traveling somewhere short term as travel puts unnecessary stress on a pet.

Below are some useful websites to check before planning your next trip with your pet

Petfriendlytravel.com- list of airline, hotel and other accommodations for traveling with a pet

AAA.com PetBook- before you go by plane, train or automobile, advise on documentation and what you will need to know

ASPCA.org- wide range of health and safety tips to consider for all steps in preparing for safe travel

RedCross.org - insight into how to prepare for an emergency before and during travel

III.org -article on pet safety during an emergence evacuation

Of course, common sense should prevail. After you travel with your pet you will be at your destiny whether it be a new home for you due to a relocation, a hotel. or  you are a guest at someone else's home.  I wrote a blog post about having a pet safe home about a year ago and have some other articles below.   Safety is key and you want to be proactive to be sure you are vetting a safe environment.  

Pet Safety Guide

Sharing Your Home with a Pet

How to Make Your Home Design Pet Friendly

Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham and enjoys writing about issues near and dear to her heart.  She advocates for pet safety and her own pet fits this bill.  She runs a small side business selling light up dog leashes to improve pet visibility (Bella Cose .  For more blog posts or real estate information please visit her blog at www.wendybcb.com.