Traveling with Pets: Worth The Hassle?

Traveling with Pets Worth A Hassle

Traveling during holidays is tough enough with all the long lines, crowds, extra bags full of presents. Add a pet in the array, and it's a recipe for disaster.

But Sheron Long, a frequent traveler and author of "Dog Trots Globe – To Paris and Provence," say it's worth the trouble.

"Every trip was better when Chula could be with us," she said of her Shetland sheepdog. "She was so excited, I could imagine her dog's eye view of the world. It causes you to explore and go see different things and meet people."

The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates more than 2 million pets and other animals are transported by air each year. Pets aren't allowed on Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses or cruise lines, but they can go on many regional train, bus and boat lines. Experts say before including a pet in travel plans, consider whether it would enjoy the experience.

"Some dogs don't like to travel, some love it," said Kelly E. Carter, the pet travel expert for AOL's Paw Nation and a Chihuahua owner. "You have to know your pet."

Gwen Cooper, the author of "Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat," said animals pick up on their owners' moods, "which means if you're nervous, your cat or dog is going to be nervous too. The best way to avoid being nervous is to prepare you and your pet ahead of time and think through as many contingencies as possible."

For eligible cats, as well as dogs, airlines have size requirements for pets in the cabin, so a small pet must fit in a carrier that can be placed under a seat and larger ones must be checked in.

Posted by Sophia Andrews on Thursday November 08 2012, 5:14 AM EST. Ref: Google. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Travel. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0