Pet Auto Safety

We drove to Texas to see my dad and step-mom for Thanksgiving so we drove to Missouri to see my mom and step-dad for Christmas.  Dad was a 12 hour drive but mom was just 5 ½ hours.  You would think that because this drive was shorter, it would be easier.  But it was snowing at least half of the way.  Thankfully, the roads were clear for the most part.  We just had to drive a little more cautiously.

Once again, we took Sephi and Maya with us.  And once again, it was a long and boring trip for them.  They wore their dog seat belts, of course.  It was also a little warmer for them since we had the heater on the whole way.  Boy were they thirsty when we arrived in Licking, Missouri.

We had less issue with the dog hair.  But not because it was a shorter trip; I brushed them every day for the week prior to the trip.  By the time we got home, there was hardly any dog hair in the car to clean up.  It was great!

Sephi and Maya loved their time in the county.  They especially loved the snow.  I made a small little snowman which Maya tried to eat.  The photo above is of my mom’s dog, Rocky, and a snowman.

Learned a new trick to keeping dog hair to a minimum, enjoyed playing in the snow, and ate a delicious holiday meal.  All-in-all, it was a great Country Christmas!  I hope yours was great too.  We’d love to hear about your Christmas with your pets.

(One more thing I’d like to say about the trip to Licking, Missouri – Maya did not have her Licking license but that did not stop her from licking!)

It’s that time of year for travel.  For Thanksgiving you may have gone to visit your parents.  So for Christmas you may be going to visit your spouse’s parents – or vise verse.  Whether the drive is two hours or twelve, it’s cold out there so make sure you travel for warmth.

Perhaps your car heater works so you think you don’t need a blanket for your dog.  But what if the cold weather has an adverse effect on your vehicle and you can’t get it started?  What if your car gets stuck in the snow and you are stranded for long hours?

Having car trouble any time of year is no fun.  Depending on where you are traveling to and how isolated the roads are, having car trouble in winter can be dangerous.  You could have trouble getting a signal on your cell phone.  Your cell phone battery could die.  And it is deathly cold outside.  So be sure that your travel essentials include lots of blankets for every member of your family.

Travel with your dog in safety and have a wonderful and Merry Christmas!

This is a busy time of year.  Despite the cold, you are going out for shopping more than usual.  Perhaps you are even doing more volunteer work this holiday season.  You are out doors putting up Christmas decorations.  And you are visiting family and friends more.  During this crazy time, you can lose track of things.  You might forget to close the front door all the way, or the front gate.  And out Rover goes to do some visiting of his own.

Or perhaps you are visiting family and friends and taking Rover with you.  Other people may not be used to closing your parent’s front gate or making sure Rover doesn’t get out.  Rover is in unfamiliar territory which makes him more inclined to go check out the neighbor’s Christmas decorations.

With these things in mind, it is very important that Rover is wearing his dog tags.  Be sure Rover’s dog tag information is up to date and that the information has not worn off with wear and tear.  Make sure his dog tags are secure on his collar.  Replace the metal ring the dog tag is attached with if it is bent or rusty.

Dog tags or dog collars can sometimes still come off.  So you may want to also consider microchipping for your dog.  It is super easy for your vet to do and takes just a few seconds.  It is no more painful to Rover than it is for him to get his vaccinations.  Microchipping is also fairly inexpensive –about $25-$40 per year.  If your dog is microchipped, make sure the contact information on the scan is accurate.  And if not, call the company which logs the microchipped information and have your name, address, and/or phone number updated.  Add emergency contacts as well.

Don’t let your dog get away from you this Holiday Season.  Whether your dog stays home or your dog travels with you, make sure he is always carrying his identification.  Dog tags and microchipping will increase your pet’s chances of getting back home in time for the holidays.

Are you traveling by car with your pet this holiday?  It’s cold out there so be sure to bring winter essentials along with other everyday pet travel supplies and emergency supplies.  Use our checklist to make sure you have all your winter pet travel supplies:

___ pet crate
___ pet car harness or kennel straps for pet crate
___ pet food
___ drinking water
___ food bowl
___ water bowl
___ blankets
___  pet bed
___ leash
___ collar
___ your pet is wearing his tags which are up to date and readable
___ veterinary information
___ pet’s medication
___ pet first aid kit
___ pet toys
___ pet waste disposal bags

Pet travel in winter can be more difficult in colder weather.  Road conditions can be more dangerous so it is more important than ever that your pet not be a distraction in the car.  Keep your pet in a pet crate or have them wear a pet car harness.  If a pet crate or pet car harness just won’t work for your pet, you can get a pet car barrier to keep them in the back seat.If you are in a car accident or get stuck in the snow, call for help and cuddle up with your pet under a blanket for warmth.  If you are stuck in a high traffic area and expect help soon, keep your car on and your heater going.  If you are stuck in an isolated area, run your car and heater sparingly as needed.  Unless you know for sure that help is nearby, you should stay in your car.

Bark Buckle Up is on a campaign to promote pet auto safety.  Take the pledge and Be Smart Ride Safe®.  It is simple to do.  All you have to do is give your name and the city and state in which you live.  You can also sign up with Bark Buckle Up to get a free pet safety kit.  I signed up for Sephi and Maya, now it’s your turn!

If you are considering traveling with your cat, check out this great article on Paw Nation’s blog titled, “Cat Travel - 5 Things to Know Before Going on the Road or in the Air“.  This article has a lot of helpful information for cat owners who are considering flying or driving with their cat.  The most important cat travel safety tip which they share for both car and airline travel - get your cat used to a carrier before you travel.

If you are moving to a different part of the country or even a different part of the world, you will probably want to take your beloved pet with you.  Moving to a different part of the United States can sometimes be a hassle.  If you are not driving, your pet will probably have to fly.  Airline restrictions are strict and complicated.  Forgetting even the slightest step could delay your pet’s travel and complicate matters even more.

If moving to a different part of the United States is complicated, moving your pet to a different part of the world is even more complex.  Not only do you have to comply with airline restrictions, you have to abide by the other country’s rules and regulations in regards to pets.  That could involve precise veterinary certifications, several vaccinations, and quarantine regulations.

Matters are already complicated when you have to move.  But you can remove the complication of moving your pet with Pet Relocation.com.  This website provides lots of information and resources needed for national or international pet travel.  They also provide a service where they will handle “every detail involved in planning and implementing safe and compassionate pet shipping”.

We have not needed to use this service yet, but the reviews are great.  Research your options carefully and if you decide to use Pet Relocation.com, let us know how it went.

Probably 99.9% of restaurants do not allow dogs inside unless they are service dogs.  However, did you know that some restaurants will allow dogs to be on the outdoor patio with you?  Yes, it’s true!  Some restaurants are even extra friendly and open about it.

So how do you find out if a particular restaurant will allow you to have your dog with you on the outdoor patio?  If you already know which restaurant you are going to eat at, call them first before bringing your dog.  If you want to get an idea of some restaurants in your area, we know of some great websites you can visit.

We liked PetFriendlyTravel.com because they provided a way for people to give their reviews of the restaurants.  And those people can review the restaurant with a one, two, or three-bone review.  A one-bone review is a restaurant which allows dogs while a three-bone review is a restaurant which not only allows dogs but makes them feel welcome too – like by giving the dogs a bowl of water.

The only thing we didn’t like about Pet Friendly Travel was that they did not have any restaurants or reviews listed for the state of Kansas (which is where we live).  We did find another great website at DogFriendly.com.  This website did not have a way for people to give review and it did not list much information other than the restaurants themselves.  But at least they had information for Kansas!

Even if you find a pet friendly restaurant on these websites, you should take a moment to call them before you bring your dog.  You never know if there has been change in management or policy since the website was last posted.

More and more people are traveling with their pets these days.  You see people and their dogs sightseeing, staying in hotels, or dining on outdoor patios of nice restaurants.  The trend is growing and so long as we practice common courtesy and safety when it comes to traveling with our pets, out pets may be allowed to visit more places.

Keep Other People In Mind
One important thing to remember when traveling with your dog is to keep in mind that not all people like dogs.  Some people are terrified of dogs.  And more still are allergic to dogs.  Be aware of your surroundings and steer clear of people who seem intimidated or wary of your dog.  And definitely stay away from those people who have an obvious look of distaste on their face.distaste on their face.

Keep Your Pet Under Control
Not only should your dog be on a leash at all times, but his leash should also be short.  While your dogs may be extremely cute and friendly, you want to keep them close to you.  One danger to a dog which is on a long lead or is not under proper control is that you could get violent reactions from people your dog gets too close to.  The violence could be on you or on your dog.  And sadly, the law may be on that person’s side.  Another danger is that your dog may pick up trash or other harmful items when you are not looking or before you can react.  The danger to people around dogs who are on a long lead include people tripping over the leash, getting tangling in the leash, having allergic reactions to your dog, your dog jumping on them, or your dog nipping, biting, or scratching them. scratching them.

Pick Up After Your Pet
Always pick up after your pet when you are in a public place.  Leaving dog feces in public places is unsanitary and probably illegal in most cities.  The last thing you want on your vacation is an expensive fine.  Also, despite popular belief, dog feces kills grass, it doesn’t fertilize it.  Dog poo is just as unsanitary in the grass as it is anywhere else.  Always keep dog poopie bags on hand so you don’t have to be too embarrassed when your dog takes a dump right in the middle of a public place for all to view.  Also, don’t allow your dog to hike his leg in public places.  Sometimes, especially when outside, your dog may be tempted to hike his leg on something he shouldn’t.ouldn’t.

Know Beforehand If Dogs Are Allowed
Don’t take your dog to any public places unless you know for certain that he is allowed.  While some restaurants with outdoor patios allow dogs, many more do not.  Some parks may only allow dogs in certain areas.  Some recreational areas may not allow dogs at all.  I went to an outdoor botanical garden once which did not allow dogs.  So just because a particular place you want to visit is outdoors, it does not mean that your dog will be allowed.  Be sure to call ahead before you visit.  This way, if they don’t allow dogs, you won’t be tempted to leave your dog in the car while you sightsee and you won’t have to take your dog back to the hotel.the hotel.We dog lovers would love to be able to take our dogs everywhere we go.  The only way society will learn to be more acceptable to this idea is if we act responsibly.  The more we can show the public that we will control our pets and be responsible pet owners, the more open society will come to be.  If you have any other ideas on how we can practice pet travel and public etiquette, please share your thoughts with us.