Wouldn't it be great to take our dog with us on vacation - even if it meant flying? The PurinaCare Pet Health Library has an article that discusses how to fly safely with your dog.
First of all, they make a point of advising pet owners to call the airline and discuss the options available. That seems like common sense, but we're creatures of habit, we humans. We think, "Oh, the dog has to go in a crate, so I'd better go buy a crate." And then, we take him to the airline and find out the crate isn't suitable.
Because each airline has specific requirements about air travel for pets, it's best to check with them well ahead of time. Another great piece of advice is to make sure your pet's ID tags (or his microchip) are up to date with your name and address, as well as your telephone number. And any relevant medical information. We are going through that updating process, ourselves, right now, as we're settling in here in Colorado. Of course, when we get our new dog, all that information will be up to date by default.
Back to the article. The reason I like this article so much is because it comes with basic guideliness on the crate; for instance, it should be large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in, and it should be sturdy with easily accessible handles.
Additionally, the article has a nice list of tips for the trip. These include getting a physical before the trip, scheduling your flight during slower travel times so airline personnel will have time to give extra attention to your pet, and especially checking to see if your pet will be hand carried to the cargo section (if that's where they will put him) or if he or she will be put on a conveyor belt. Now, I have to wonder if that ever happens... it doesn't seem right to have anyone's dog (or cat) being put on a conveyor belt, but...it's something to check out.
If you plan on traveling by air with your dog, this article is an important one to read. There is a lot more I could not include here. And, if you have questions not covered in the article, ask them here and I'll do my best to get them answered for you.
Happy trails!
