Taking Your Pets on Vacation

Pet ownership is a very large responsibility, as anyone who shares a home with an animal will attest to. From the early stages of adolescence with the hassles of housebreaking and over-abundances of youthful energy, to the daily grind of feedings, walks and cleanings, to the inevitable ravages of age, owning a pet – no matter the species – is not something to be undertaken lightly.

Part of that responsibility includes thinking of your pets when you make decisions about upcoming travel plans. No matter where you plan to go or for how long, you will need to take their needs into consideration. If you are going a long distance, and it requires you to take an airplane, you have two options. You can either risk a lot of discomfort and panic for your pet by putting them through the trauma of flying the cargo hold, or you can leave them with a trusted friend or a reputable boarding kennel. If you replace “pet” with “child”, you can see what would be the better choice. That’s not to say it’s the same situation by any means, but when travelling, you need to take your pet’s welfare into consideration. (more…)