{"id":5790,"date":"2009-07-14T15:39:00","date_gmt":"2009-07-14T15:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/life\/pets\/driving-miss-doggy-traveling-with-your-pet\/"},"modified":"2009-07-14T15:39:00","modified_gmt":"2009-07-14T15:39:00","slug":"driving-miss-doggy-traveling-with-your-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/driving-miss-doggy-traveling-with-your-pet","title":{"rendered":"Driving Miss Doggy: Traveling With Your Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"

The period between early July and early September is called the Dog Days of Summer, originally because of the position of the dog star, Sirius, in the sky, and possibly because of the way that canines lie like loxes in the heat. Lately, and increasingly, it\u2019s come to mean time to extend the family vacation to the dog\u2014or the hamster, or the bird, or the occasional oddball cat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMostly, I want to be with her,\u201d says Debora Van Duren, former owner of Mood Swings Jewelry (soon to be Baubles<\/a>) and human companion of Miss Pearl. Van Duren has taken Miss Pearl traveling with her for nearly four years to pet-friendly hotels via JetBlue Airlines, where the little Yorkie has her own frequent-flyer card. Van Duren says that it\u2019s easier than traveling with any of her 14 grandchildren.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the past few years, the numbers of pet-friendly hotels and restaurants have been multiplying like unneutered rabbits, with far more humane results. People are electing to travel with their pets, particularly dogs, instead of leaving them at home with brief sitter checks or at boarding facilities. If you plan to travel with Charley, or Harley, or Versace (nobody names pets Fido or Fluffy anymore), we wrote this just for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, where are you going, and what particular concerns may you have about the place? Here\u2019s our first checklist:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Make sure that your pet doesn\u2019t have breathing issues that different air quality or density may aggravate.<\/span>
\u2022 Check for plants and wildlife that may harm your pet.<\/span>
\u2022 For trips to crowded cities, bring a comfortable carrier and restraints.<\/span>
\u2022 Locate veterinarians in the area. If you have an acquaintance who lives there, get a recommendation.<\/span>
\u2022 Get your pet checked by your vet and vaccinated for any disease or condition prevalent in the area. Bring copies of the animal\u2019s immunization and medical records as well as a recent photo.<\/span>
\u2022 For trips outside the country, familiarize yourself with quarantine and other regulations regarding animals.<\/span>
\u2022 No matter whether you\u2019re heading, be sure your pet has ID tags and a microchip in case he or she gets lost. In fact, if you\u2019re staying home, your pet should be fitted with both types of identification.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can find numerous pet-friendly accommodations on Web sites that cater to pet travel. We particularly like PetsWelcome.com<\/a> and Petside.com<\/a>. Even if the welcome mat is laid out, however, it\u2019s generally not okay to chew it up or sharpen claws on it. Each facility has its rules, and you need to find out what they are before you go. Two of Long Beach\u2019s B and B\u2019s, the Varden Hotel<\/a> and the Turret House<\/a> both allow animals, but there are restrictions as to weight, and all animals must be socialized and housebroken. At the Turret House, dogs are allowed in the common areas, but cats must be in the room lest havoc is wreaked on the upholstery. The Marriott<\/a> chain is pet friendly, including its more upscale Renaissance. There is a nonrefundable cleaning fee, as with many places, and pet owners are asked to not leave pets alone while out of the rooms, particularly dogs who tend to complain rather loudly if left on their own for more than 10 seconds, particularly in a strange place. There\u2019s also the danger of escape or nipping when the cleaning crew is in the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the more posh establishments that welcome pets have special menus and services for dogs. The Cypress Inn in Carmel<\/a> is the cr\u00e8me-de-la-marrow-bone of posh petdom. Actress Doris Day has co-owned the Inn for a couple of decades, and she\u2019s a devoted animal advocate<\/a>. The Inn has no special pet menu but they do offer a list of restaurants that do and also have a list of recommended vets. Well-behaved pets are actively encouraged to stay with equally refined humans, and all species are allowed in the breakfast room with their humans and all over the furniture. Pets may not stay alone in the rooms but no worries: the Inn provides a list of qualified sitters. A jar of treats is on the counter when pets arrive\u2014not unexpectedly, there isn\u2019t a similar jar for humans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The visual of a couple cuddled in a sleeping bag in a tent with the faithful dog between them is a clich\u00e9 waiting for a commercial, but many folks like to take their dogs camping. That sort of leaves out the cat (and we don\u2019t recommend it anyway), but there are the happy RV-ers who rough it with indoor plumbing and many other comforts of home around the country, and cats have traveled successfully in campers. Not all RV grounds allow animals, so check the Web sites we recommended for the ones that do. Nancy and Greg Poulen own one of them: the Lake Tahoe KOA<\/a> located six miles out of Lake Tahoe. On the phone, Nancy sounds exactly like someone who rushes up to your camper and shoves you out of the way so she can hug the dog. There is a charge, she says, for dogs, but none for cats because they usually stay inside the camper\u2014and Nancy agrees that that is a must, for the cat\u2019s sake\u2014and look out the window at squirrels and chipmunks and other Cat-TV channels. Dogs, on the other hand, have a blast outside. They romp around on leashes or sit in enclosures that the human companions set up in front of the campers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTahoe is a beautiful place for dogs,\u201d Nancy said. \u201cThe animals can swim, there\u2019s a dog run and park, and tons of trees around the forest.\u201d Of course, she warns, be on the lookout for wildlife; keep your pet in hand because either the wildlife or the pet will wind up as a snack.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unless you drive an RV, you\u2019ll most likely use a car or possibly fly. For flight preparation:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Get a sturdy carrier, one that is recommended for airline travel. Don\u2019t use soft carriers under the seats.<\/span>
\u2022 Exercise your pet before boarding.<\/span>
\u2022 Just before you go through security, give your dog a potty break. If he or she needs to go again, you\u2019ll have to go through security a second time.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the past couple of years, airlines have allowed pets to move from the cargo hold to under the seat, if the animal is small enough to fit in a carrier. Certain animals are not allowed in the cabins on certain airlines: reptiles, sugar gliders, spiders (imagine that) They have yet to allow people to perch the pets on the seat next to them\u2014or put screaming children under the seats\u2014but one airline, Pet Airways<\/a>, just started out flying animals exclusively. The animals fly in the main cabin, with a flight attendant catering to exercise needs. But don\u2019t picture a row of seats with dogs and cats eating pet party mix and sipping tunatinis in first class; the airline is run by a cargo flight company, and humans must relinquish the pets at boarding and fly a different airline to their destination. Furthermore, there are only a handful of flights a week, usually weekends. The airline may do well for pets that are too large to fit under the seat as they don\u2019t go on cargo and do get exercise\/potty breaks, but the jury\u2019s out on Pet Airways (post us if you use them and tell us what you think). Check out the other airlines first. Long Beach\u2019s own sky mascot, JetBlue, has gone all out with its new JetPaws program<\/a> and this should surprise no one familiar with the airline\u2019s creativity and client-friendly treatment. JetPaws will set up travelers with pet-friendly hotels and restaurants as well as veterinarians, and their Web site features traveling accessories, tips, and a downloadable guide. Pets, mind you, are eligible for their own JetPaws points.<\/span><\/p>\n

Car trips require a bit of advanced preparation, but it pays off. Follow these suggestions:<\/span>

\"\"\u2022 If your pet has so far only traveled to the vet, take him or her out in the car for short trips, and go in a different direction than the route to Dr. Needleznpokes.<\/span>
\u2022 Use a pet carrier or restraining harness when driving. Make sure that the harness allows your pet to lie down as well as sit. Don\u2019t use a choke chain; they can get caught in pet carriers.<\/span>
\u2022 Do not allow your pet to stick his or her head out the window. Injuries, particularly to the eye, result from this.<\/span>
\u2022 Use a window shade to deflect direct sun. Wet noses can get sunburned.<\/span>
\u2022 Bring a good quantity of water from a source that he or she is used to drinking from. When you reach your destination, mix it in increments with the local water. Obtain a nonspill traveling bowl for the car.<\/span>
\u2022 Pack the following: towels, restraint, harness, toys that he or she has played with at home for familiarity, snacks, grooming equipment, a travel bed or bedding (although they\u2019ll probably jump up on yours), medications, and a soft travel bag.<\/span>
\u2022 Locate veterinarians along the route you\u2019re traveling. Use one of the previously mentioned Web sites.<\/span>
\u2022 Do not leave your pet in the car when you travel. Find an outdoor caf\u00e9.<\/span>
\u2022 Take frequent potty breaks (both of you) and don\u2019t forget the pickup bags! Or the litter box\u2014you can handle it for a few miles.<\/span>
\u2022 Consider signing up for a basic training class for your dog before you leave.<\/span>
\u2022 Pets sometimes need medication for motion sickness or anxiety. If you need either or both, don\u2019t use your own prescriptions\u2014see a vet. There is a new medication called Cerenia, by Pfizer labs, that was specifically developed for motion sickness in cats and dogs. Dr. John Kuttel, DVM, of Huntington Harbour Veterinary Clinic, calls it \u201cvery effective\u201d and advises administration before the trip begins. [Disclaimer: Dr. Kuttel has been treating Kate\u2019s and her friend\u2019s cats for the past 20-plus years.] Eva Kuncewicki, owner of Chewsy Dogs (formerly Cosmopawlitan Boutique) located at 4107 N Viking Way in Long Beach, likes holistic remedies and recommends lavender as a calming fragrance. Her boutique carries a lavender spray as well as a Mellow Mutts chicken breast snack that includes chamomile and lavender. Many of the products recommended in this article are sold at Chewsy Dogs (see photos). [Disclaimer<\/em>\u2014actually, more like a commendation: Kuncewicki is a strong supporter of our shelter and of Friends of Long Beach Animals.]<\/span><\/p>\n

A word about cats\u2014generally, they don\u2019t travel well. Almost everyone who has traveled with a cat has had issues. Former Long Beach writer Kevin Downey\u2019s cat, Kutta, never let him forget a corporate flight from Chicago as long as she lived. One cautionary tail\u2014misspelling deliberate\u2014involves LBPL Bookstore volunteer Jan Jackson and her husband, Barry, who took their cat Clementine on a 1,600-mile road trip when they moved to Long Beach from the cat\u2019s native Texas. The trip nearly didn\u2019t take place when Clem disappeared in the upset of the movers all over the house. When she finally returned the next morning, the trip went fairly well, but Clem would not be confined and sat on Jan\u2019s shoulder all the way up. They managed in the hotels, and sneaked her for meals into truck stops where, as Barry said, patrons there don\u2019t pay undue attention to the ambience as long as the cat remains quiet. But it can be a battle all the way, and there\u2019s little worse than losing the kitty on the road. Unless your cat is a good traveler, let him or her take a staycation with the pet sitter. If you must bring your cat, confine him or her to a room with nothing to hide behind or under to avoid disappearing acts.<\/span><\/p>\n

For closers, here are the top five places to take your dog:<\/span>
1. The American Museum of Natural History\u2019s Fossil Hall in Manhattan<\/strong>\u2014so many bones.<\/span>
2. Any of the Ultimate Frisbee Tournaments taking place<\/strong>\u2014surely, the dog would be a welcome participant.<\/span>
3. The Charles M. Schultz Museum in Santa Rosa<\/strong>\u2014visit the Snoopy Gift Shop.<\/span>
4. Sequoia National Forest<\/strong>\u2014he won\u2019t be able to see the forest for the trees, but that\u2019s what he came for.<\/span>
5. The Fire Museum of Texas in Beaumont<\/strong>\u2014boasts the largest hydrant in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

For cats:<\/span>
1. Biggest ball of twine in the world, Cawker City, Kansas<\/strong>. Don\u2019t expect to be welcomed back.<\/span>
2. At home<\/strong>, under the bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

A dog, particularly an exotic like Charley, is a bond between strangers. Many conversations en route began with \u201cWhat degree of a dog is that?\u201d<\/em>
\u2014\u201cTravels with Charley: In Search of America,\u201d John Steinbeck<\/span><\/p>\n

Random Clawings<\/span><\/p>\n

Adoptions<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photobucket\"<\/a>
Dukie, tabby and white kitten, about 4 months old, affectionate and full of personality. Available at Chewsy Dogs, 4107 N Viking Way in Long Beach.<\/p>\n

\"Photobucket\"<\/a>
Lindsey, brown tabby, not more then a year old, full of energy and very playful. Featured at Bixby Animal Hospital, 3938 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach.<\/p>\n

Both kitties were scheduled for euthanasia at the shelter and have been put up for adoption by Friends of Long Beach animals.<\/p>\n

Events<\/span>

July 20, Breeding and Transfer Workshop, ACS<\/strong>
If you\u2019re a member of an animal rescue group [501c(3) status], animal adoption group or an animal-related commercial business, Animal Care Services (ACS) will present a workshop to discuss Long Beach\u2019s breeding and transfer process and the procedures for obtaining permits. RSVP to Susanne Delima at (562) 570-3087 to attend. 10:30 a.m.\u2013noon, 7700 East Spring St.
[http:\/\/www.longbeach.gov\/acs<\/a>]<\/p>\n

July 30, Friends of Long Beach Animals 20th Anniversary Celebration<\/strong>
Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) celebrates 20 years of helping animals and their humans in the local community. Join them for their yearly membership meeting and celebration. Refreshments, social hour and voting, followed by the presentation of the Impact Award from the city prosecutor\u2019s office. 6:30 p.m., Signal Hill Community Center, 1780 E. Hill St. Signal Hill.
[http:\/\/www.friendsoflongbeachanimals.org<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Ongoing\u2014Pet Literacy at ACS<\/strong>
Pet Literacy is a City of Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) program at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village. The program promotes humane treatment, socialization of animals, creating a connection between animals and humans, and literacy through reading aloud to the animals. Wednesdays\u2013Sundays, 2\u20133 p.m., 7700 East Spring St.
[http:\/\/www.longbeach.gov\/acs]<\/p>\n

Support Needed\u2014Tuesday, July 14, International Day of Action for Dogs and Cats in Korea<\/strong>
In Defense of Animals (IDA) is again co-sponsoring this worldwide event to stop the terrible suffering dogs and cats endure when raised and slaughtered for human consumption. Meet at Washington Mutual Bank, 5200 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, 6 p.m.\u20138 p.m. Visit this website<\/a> for info and FAQs.<\/p>\n

AB 241 and SB 250 Hearing Dates Announced<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please call in your support for AB 241, the Responsible Breeder Act of 2009, which is designed to crack down on the scourge of puppy mills. The date has been moved up, and your support is necessary. Visit this website<\/a> for facts and info.<\/p>\n

SB 250, Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez’s Pet Responsibility Act, is to be voted on in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, July 15, in room 4202 at 9 a.m. (date has also been moved up). As euthanasia rates continue to rise, this legislation needs to pass. Visit this website<\/a> for facts and information on making phone calls and sending letters to our legislators. One call\u2019s all it takes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Judy and Kate explain the best and worst ways to vacation with your pet this summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":70281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-5790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5790"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5790\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5790"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=5790"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=5790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}