Your
pet could be in danger of getting lost, injured or even killed unless
you make proper preparations before hitting the road or hopping on a
plane for the Thanksgiving weekend, the busiest four-day travel
period of the year, a leading animal welfare agency warns.
The Hunt of Her Life: A book series about a rescue dog that will touch your heart
The Hunt of Her Life: A book series about a rescue dog that will touch your heart
The
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advises pet
parents to make sure their companions have proper identification, are
healthy enough to make the trip and to bring all pet medications.
“Traveling
can be highly stressful, both for you and your animal companions,"
ASPCA executive vice president Stephen Zawistowski states in a media
release. "With thoughtful preparation, you can ensure a safe and
comfortable trip for everyone.”
In addition to the Thanksgiving weekend, high periods of traveling with pets include the Christmas holiday as well as during the summer.
THE HUNT OF HER LIFE is a nonfiction book
series about Samantha, an unwanted rescue dog who the author adopts at age 2.
This beautifully designed deluxe full-color book, by longtime newspaper journalist Joseph A. Reppucci, contains more than 60 vibrant color photos of dogs to help illustrate the compelling and uplifting
story of Samantha - a pretty tricolor bird dog who uses her warm
personality to win people over and build a new family after being put up
for adoption by a hunter because she is gun-shy and afraid to hunt.
Learn how she uses her special bonding abilities with people to help her
eventually make a transition from the hunting fields to family life. While
reading the The Hunt of Her Life, you will travel with Samantha and the
author along a trail filled with surprising twists, sudden turns,
mystery and even what some call a miracle. And when the journey is
finished, you may never look at people and their pets, motherhood - and
perhaps even God - in the same way. The
Hunt of Her Life is must reading. It will take you on a captivating
journey - a trip like no other - that will touch your heart.
In addition to the Thanksgiving weekend, high periods of traveling with pets include the Christmas holiday as well as during the summer.
Story continues below
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A book series about a rescue dog
that will touch your heart
that will touch your heart
THE HUNT OF HER LIFE is a nonfiction book
series about Samantha, an unwanted rescue dog who the author adopts at age 2.
This beautifully designed deluxe full-color book, by longtime newspaper journalist Joseph A. Reppucci, contains more than 60 vibrant color photos of dogs to help illustrate the compelling and uplifting
story of Samantha - a pretty tricolor bird dog who uses her warm
personality to win people over and build a new family after being put up
for adoption by a hunter because she is gun-shy and afraid to hunt.
Learn how she uses her special bonding abilities with people to help her
eventually make a transition from the hunting fields to family life. While
reading the The Hunt of Her Life, you will travel with Samantha and the
author along a trail filled with surprising twists, sudden turns,
mystery and even what some call a miracle. And when the journey is
finished, you may never look at people and their pets, motherhood - and
perhaps even God - in the same way. The
Hunt of Her Life is must reading. It will take you on a captivating
journey - a trip like no other - that will touch your heart.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Story continues here
Using products designed for pet travel - such as car safety seats and harnesses, anti-spill travel bowls, first aid kits and car travel ID tags - can make the trip much more comfortable for pets and their owners, Dr. Zawistowski says.
“The
increase in products specifically geared for pet travel and safety
has made the experience that much easier for pet parents,” Dr.
Zawistowski said. “It’s all the more reason families should take
precautions to ensure that their pet’s travel is trouble-free.”
A
visit to the veterinarian prior to the trip is a must, according to
the ASPCA, to ensure a pet is up-to-date on vaccinations and to
obtain flea/tick prevention and heart-worm medications. Pet parents
should get a health certificate dated within 10 days of air travel
and ask about any particular parasites or health risks that might be
associated with the planned destination.
Air
Travel
Here
are some tips from the ASPCA for air travel with a pet:
- Your pet should always wear a collar and identification tag with an address or cell phone number where you can be reached. Additionally, you should display a current photograph on your pet’s carrier and write the name, address, and telephone number of the person receiving the animal at your destination.
- Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate. It should be large enough for your pet to comfortably stand, sit and turn around in. Write “Live Animal” in large letters on at least two sides of the crate, and use arrows to indicate the upright position of the crate. Make sure the door is securely closed, but not locked, so airline personnel can open it in an emergency.
- Book a direct flight if possible to decrease your pet’s chances of being left on a tarmac or outside during extreme weather conditions. Tell every airline employee you encounter, on the ground and in the air, that you are traveling with a pet in the cargo hold. This way, they will be ready if any additional considerations or attention is needed.
Automobile
travel
Here
are some tips from the ASPCA for automobile travel with a pet:
- Keep your pet in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. Make sure it is large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in.
- Outfit your dog with a harness and safety belt if your pet is riding in a seat. This will keep you pet secure in case of sudden stops or changes in direction.
- Don't allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. He could be injured by flying objects.
- Cats should always be in a carrier.
- Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in minutes, resulting in heatstroke for your pet. In cold weather, a car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
- Bring bottled water or tap water from your home stored in plastic jugs for your pet. Drinking different water can cause your pet to get an upset stomach.
- Bring your pet’s rabies vaccination records. Some states require this proof at interstate crossings.
- Make sure your pet has an ID collar with your home address and a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant contact information.
Automobile
safety belts
HandicappedPets.com
of Amherst, New Hampshire, offers these tips, in another media
release, about automobile safety belts and pets:
- Put a dog in a safety belt or harness on all trips, even short ones.
- Use restraints that offer mobility and freedom of movement. The dog should be able to move around a little and turn in the seat.
- Put the dog in the back seat. The safest place is the middle of the back seat. Airbags in the front seat can be dangerous for pets.
A
checklist of pet items
The
College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University
suggests taking these items along for the trip:
- Plenty of your pet’s regular food and water.
- Food and water bowls.
- Pet medications and medical records, which might be needed unexpectedly. A first-aid kit is a good idea.
- A crate or carrier to keep your pet confined when it is unsupervised.
Related reports about dogs and travel:
This common activity can injure - even kill - your pet
Holiday travel can be dangerous - even deadly - for pets
More reports about dogs and safety
Living room item cause most pet injuries
In emergency, your pet's survival depends on you
No ID means death for 800,000 pets a year
Protect your pet from theft and torture
Pets capable of swallowing strange objects
Ways to keep pets safe in storms, disasters
The Ruff Report's dogs and safety Home Page
- Identification tags with current contact information, including cell phone numbers.
- A favorite toy or chew toys to help keep your pet occupied.
- A familiar blanket or pet bed to help your pet feel safe a comfortable.
The Ruff Report is a column that appears on MySetterSam.com,
a blog written by Joseph A. Reppucci, a retired editor from The Patriot
Ledger in Quincy, Massachusetts. Mr. Reppucci worked as a reporter and editor on major daily
newspapers in the Boston area for more than 30 years. He is the author
of the book, The Hunt of Her Life,
a heartwarming story about his once-in-a-lifetime rescue dog. Find it on Amazon.com.
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