If you're a pet owner planning to travel by air with your dog or cat this summer, better be prepared for your furry friend to be bumped at the last minute.
Under tough new pet travel policies, airlines reserve the right to turn your pet away if the ground temperature exceeds 85° F in either the departure or destination city for more than 45 minutes. Some airlines may even ban pet travel entirely during the hottest summer months.  U.S. airlines are imposing tight restrictions on pet air travel, especially during the peak summer months, in response to passage of "The Safe Air Travel for Animals Act" by Congress last year. The law was enacted in response to reports that as many as 5,000 pets are hurt, killed or lost each year in airline mishaps ranging from rough handling on the ground to temperature extremes and oxygen depletion in the air.
Finding a Quality Boarding Kennel
Quality boarding kennels book up quickly for the busy summer vacation months, so it's important to plan ahead. But how do you find a boarding kennel where the family pet will enjoy his summer vacation as much as you do yours?
Pet industry experts say that pets need consistency and plenty of human interaction. So look for a kennel that will provide a structured routine, round-the-clock monitoring of eating, play and elimination behaviors, and frequent contact with caring, warm humans.
Following are recommendations from the experts on evaluating boarding kennels and selecting the best accommodations for your pet:
- Always visit any kennel you are considering. Ask for a tour and use your eyes, ears and nose to evaluate the facility. Does the place look and smell clean? Are the quarters large enough for your pet to move about?
- How does the staff interact with their pet guests? Look for people who obviously love animals. The ideal facility will be staffed by employees who know the pets by name and who take the time to pet and talk with the pets in their care.
- Ask questions. Is there exercise or play time available? What about bathing and grooming services? What about custom care? Will they feed special diets and give medication if required? Is there 24-hour on-call veterinarian care?
- Don't forget to ask for references. A good kennel will readily provide names and phone numbers of satisfied customers.
Once you've found the perfect boarding facility and made your pets' reservations, you still aren't done. Any top-notch boarding facility will require that all pet guests be vaccinated against rabies, distemper and canine cough. If your pet's vaccinations aren't up-to-date, be sure to make an appointment with your veterinary clinic - ideally, a week or two in advance of your vacation, so your pet has time to benefit from the inoculations.
Finally, before you head for the kennel, double-check that you have your pet's medications and special food (if any). Be sure you have your veterinarian's phone number to give the kennel staff, along with contact information for you at your vacation destination as well as local contact information for someone who will serve as your "backup" in an emergency if you can't be reached.
Once your pet is checked-in and in the care of a staff member, say good-bye, and leave. Avoid long, emotional partings, which may upset your pet. Finally, have a good trip, knowing that your pet is in good hands and will be happy to see you when you return.
For more tips on selecting a quality kennel and boarding for your pet, visit the websites of the American Animal Hospital Association at www.healthypet.com or the American Boarding Kennel Association at www.abka.com. |
Traveling as cargo
Under the new rules, most travelers who wish to have their pets with them at their destination must arrange to ship their pets as cargo. It's a first-come, first-served system with limited slots available. And, the cost can be high - as much as $300 one-way. Some carriers now require travelers to book their pets through private pet transport companies, who charge additional fees on top of the cargo charges.
The restrictions even impact small animals, who have traditionally traveled in-cabin.
While most airlines continue to accept some small animals as carry-on luggage in the passenger compartment of their planes, the number of slots on each flight is limited and pets must be in carriers that meet carry-on luggage size restrictions.
The website Pets on the Go (www.petsonthego.com) recently contacted all the major U.S. airlines and has prepared a chart that summarizes policies, restrictions, and fees. For more detailed information, go directly to the airline website. Several airlines (United, Northwest and Delta) have helpful sections on traveling with a pet.
Boarding kennel crunch
 Last summer, the airlines' travel restrictions created a last-minute space crunch at many pet boarding facilities across the U.S., according to Dan Charleton of Best Friends Pet Resorts, the largest company in the U.S. boarding kennel industry.
"While we certainly applaud the airlines' efforts to protect the health of traveling pets, these new rules have created a real dilemma for many pet owners. Should they book the flight and hope that their pet will actually make it on board, or should they plan to leave the family pet behind at a boarding kennel?"
"Summer is traditionally the busiest season for our industry and quality boarding kennels are often at capacity - especially during July and August," says Charleton. "Pet owners who suddenly find their dog or cat bumped from a scheduled flight may find that there's simply no room at the inn for Buddy."
If you decide to try to travel with your pet, be sure to ask your airline representative for specific details regarding its policy on pets and summer heat, says Charleton. If you decide to play it safe and give your pet a vacation of its own at a quality pet resort, book soon. For more information, see the sidebar story on Finding a Quality Boarding Kennel.
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