Getting Your Dog Ready to Fly
December 1, 2008 by Paris and John
Filed under Tips
With the holiday season just around the corner, many dog lovers are making travel plans that include their dogs. What steps should you take to fly with your dog?
Step one: talk to your vet. You’ll want to make sure your dog is healthy enough to fly. Even flying in a carrier beneath the seat in front of you is stressful for dogs but traveling in cargo is difficult emotionally and physically on dogs. Make sure your dog can handle the stress.
Step two: plan your trip with your dog in mind. Winter weather can mean delays and cancellations, both which are that much worse if you’re traveling with your dog. Try to get a direct, non-stop flight so your dog doesn’t have to be moved from one flight to another. Scheduling flights for early in the morning will give you the best chance of catching another flight should yours be delayed or canceled. If you fly late in the day, you’re often talking about a delay until a flight the next day.
Step three: talk to the airline. Talk with the airline about traveling with your dog. Many airlines have restrictions on the number of dogs that are allowed per flight. Find out if you’ll be able to confirm travel for both you and your dog. Look for airlines with pet-friendly policies such as a 24-hour desk for answered questions on the location of your pet should he become lost.
Step four: ID, ID, ID. You can’t have too much ID on your pet, starting with a microchip. Next, make sure your pet has a tag that includes as much information as possible: your home phone, your vet’s phone, your cell phone. Have a photo (one of head, one of body) put on the side of his crate; keep another set of photos with you in case he is lost.
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