Taking your pet for a trip is not less than traveling with your child as most of the Americans consider their pets as an integral part of their families. So travelling with your pet means a lot more than just to put it on the back-sit of your car and to start for a long distance journey. According to ASPCA you need to keep in mind some specific measures while you are thinking of moving with your fur baby. Here are some of the tips you should follow to make your pet’s ride safe and smooth:
- A pet resort Brisbane owner says the first thing should take care while riding with your pet is the proper ventilation system. Try to keep your pet in a spacious restrainable well-ventilated carrier or crate. There are various wire mesh, soft-sided and hard plastic carriers available in the market. Your pet crate should be large enough so that your pet can easily sit, lie down, turn around and stand up into it without touching it’s head to the carrier roof. Carriers should have wired walls from at least three sides instead of full plastic coverage for domestic travel and open from four sides for air shipment. And P.S make the carrier familler to your pet before going out. Keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier.
- Before heading for a long distance drive let your pet get comfortable with journeys by taking it on a series of short rides. Observe it’s behaviour during travelling and gradually increase the time duration to make it geared up for a long trip. Always tie your pet’s carrier with belts like you wear your sit-belt, so that it won’t get shifted or misplaced in the time of quick break.
- Do not feed your furry friends just before going out for a trip. Maintain the duration of feeding at least 4 to 5 hours before travelling. Also, avoid feeding them in a moving vehicle as that can make your pets sick and do not give them greasy street food too. Provide them minimal fluid before moving so that their bladder won’t get filled.
- Most of the countries find it illegal to leave your pet alone in the car as that is harmful for your fondle. If you leave your pet alone within your vehicle at the parking lot on a hot day, the temperature can shoot up really fast even if the window is open and make your car a living furnace. Your pet can die out of heat stroke in this situation. Likewise, on a cold day your vehicle can become a refrigerator and you can freeze to death. You can be punished with penalties upto $5,500 and 6 months jail for abusing pets and if any pet dies due to mistreatment, the penalty will jump to $22,500 and 2 years jail.
- Unlike you, your furry friend also needs a travel kit! You should keep ample food and water, a bowl, waste bags, a leash, a waste scoop, pet medications, pet first-aid kit, grooming supplies etc in a best carry-on luggage. You can also carry your pet’s favorite toy or pillow and blanket to ease it. Last, but not least you must carry your pet’s current photo and detailed travel information so that in case of separation you can show it to people.
- Make your pet’s identification secured by tagging it with a proper ID andC⁴ microchipped with your home address. You can also use a temporary travel tag to your pet that contains your phone number or any other relevant contact information or destination contact number etc.
- Always keep the front-sit of your vehicle for humans. Place your pet to the back-sit of your car in it’s carrier. You can rent a rental car on sites like https://www.limofind.com/fl/clearwater-party-bus-rental. If you are not willing to lock it, you can attach a harness with your pet that should be buckled with the car seat.
- If you’re planning to transfer your pet, you won’t get very far without the right paperwork. Many places require incoming pets to have an up-to-date health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian. Before signing the documents, vets will confirm that your pet is healthy and up-to-date on all vaccinations required by the receiving state or country. If you’re flying, contact the airline to see if any other special paperwork is required to transport your animal.
- Your pet should be vaccinated at least 28 days before travelling to anywhere. Sometimes, in case of travelling across state lines, you need to carry all the vaccination certificates from a licensed veterinary. Therefore, you will be able to move forward without any legal hazard. Additionally, you may want to consider getting pet insurance, so you’re prepared for any potential emergencies.
- Avoid giving any kind of unhealthy food and unsterilised water to your pet that could make your pet’s stomach upset. Try to carry your pet’s supplements and drinks while driving.
- Bernal said, “If you have a pet you know has those sensitivities, I would keep their tummy empty. It will be good for the pet and it will be nicer for everyone in the car too.” Even though your pet is not generally timid about travelling, sometimes motion sickness can cause nuisance while driving. In Bernal’s version it can be called stress diarrhea. Pets can be afraid of riding cars or flying that can make their tummy upset. So, it is recommended to feed them less than their usual food quantity. But, you should not starve them.
- Though there are restrictions in feeding your pet while traveling, hence you are allowed to hydrate it overtime. You can place a water bowl attached in your pet’s crate that must be spill proof. Always carry bottled water so that you can provide them necessary liquid when they want. As per Bernal’s suggestion, you can also feed your pet wet food instead of dry food contents to make them feel good even without having liquid.
- You can cover up your vehicle with waterproof seat covers and rubberised floor liner if you need to travel very frequently along with your pet. These kinds of protective products are easily available to the automobile retailers.
