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’s come to mean time to extend the family vacation to the dog—or the hamster, or the bird, or the occasional oddball cat.
“Mostly, I want to be with her,” says Debora Van Duren, former owner of Mood Swings Jewelry (soon to be Baubles) 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’s easier than traveling with any of her 14 grandchildren.
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.
First, where are you going, and what particular concerns may you have about the place? Here’s our first checklist:
• Make sure that your pet doesn’t have breathing issues that different air quality or density may aggravate.
• Check for plants and wildlife that may harm your pet.
• For trips to crowded cities, bring a comfortable carrier and restraints.
• Locate veterinarians in the area. If you have an acquaintance who lives there, get a recommendation.
• Get your pet checked by your vet and vaccinated for any disease or condition prevalent in the area. Bring copies of the animal’s immunization and medical records as well as a recent photo.
• For trips outside the country, familiarize yourself with quarantine and other regulations regarding animals.
• No matter whether you’re heading, be sure your pet has ID tags and a microchip in case he or she gets lost. In fact, if you’re staying home, your pet should be fitted with both types of identification.
You can find numerous pet-friendly accommodations on Web sites that cater to pet travel. We particularly like PetsWelcome.com and Petside.com. Even if the welcome mat is laid out, however, it’s 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’s B and B’s, the Varden Hotel and the Turret House 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 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’s also the danger of escape or nipping when the cleaning crew is in the room.
Some of the more posh establishments that welcome pets have special menus and services for dogs. The Cypress Inn in Carmel is the crème-de-la-marrow-bone of posh petdom. Actress Doris Day has co-owned the Inn for a couple of decades, and she’s a devoted animal advocate. 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—not unexpectedly, there isn’t a similar jar for humans.
The visual of a couple cuddled in a sleeping bag in a tent with the faithful dog between them is a cliché waiting for a commercial, but many folks like to take their dogs camping. That sort of leaves out the cat (and we don’t 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 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—and Nancy agrees that that is a must, for the cat’s sake—and 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.
“Tahoe is a beautiful place for dogs,” Nancy said. “The animals can swim, there’s a dog run and park, and tons of trees around the forest.” 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.
Unless you drive an RV, you’ll most likely use a car or possibly fly. For flight preparation:
• Get a sturdy carrier, one that is recommended for airline travel. Don’t use soft carriers under the seats.
• Exercise your pet before boarding.
• Just before you go through security, give your dog a potty break. If he or she needs to go again, you’ll have to go through security a second time.
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—or put screaming children under the seats—but one airline, Pet Airways, just started out flying animals exclusively. The animals fly in the main cabin, with a flight attendant catering to exercise needs. But don’t 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’t go on cargo and do get exercise/potty breaks, but the jury’s out on Pet Airways (post us if you use them and tell us what you think). Check out the other airlines first. Long Beach’s own sky mascot, JetBlue, has gone all out with its new JetPaws program and this should surprise no one familiar with the airline’s 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.
Car trips require a bit of advanced preparation, but it pays off. Follow these suggestions:
• 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.
• 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’t use a choke chain; they can get caught in pet carriers.
• Do not allow your pet to stick his or her head out the window. Injuries, particularly to the eye, result from this.
• Use a window shade to deflect direct sun. Wet noses can get sunburned.
• 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.
• 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’ll probably jump up on yours), medications, and a soft travel bag.
• Locate veterinarians along the route you’re traveling. Use one of the previously mentioned Web sites.
• Do not leave your pet in the car when you travel. Find an outdoor café.
• Take frequent potty breaks (both of you) and don’t forget the pickup bags! Or the litter box—you can handle it for a few miles.
• Consider signing up for a basic training class for your dog before you leave.
• Pets sometimes need medication for motion sickness or anxiety. If you need either or both, don’t use your own prescriptions—see 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 “very effective” and advises administration before the trip begins. [Disclaimer: Dr. Kuttel has been treating Kate’s and her friend’s 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—actually, more like a commendation: Kuncewicki is a strong supporter of our shelter and of Friends of Long Beach Animals.]
A word about cats—generally, they don’t travel well. Almost everyone who has traveled with a cat has had issues. Former Long Beach writer Kevin Downey’s cat, Kutta, never let him forget a corporate flight from Chicago as long as she lived. One cautionary tail—misspelling deliberate—involves 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’s native Texas. The trip nearly didn’t 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’s 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’t pay undue attention to the ambience as long as the cat remains quiet. But it can be a battle all the way, and there’s 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.
For closers, here are the top five places to take your dog:
1. The American Museum of Natural History’s Fossil Hall in Manhattan—so many bones.
2. Any of the Ultimate Frisbee Tournaments taking place—surely, the dog would be a welcome participant.
3. The Charles M. Schultz Museum in Santa Rosa—visit the Snoopy Gift Shop.
4. Sequoia National Forest—he won’t be able to see the forest for the trees, but that’s what he came for.
5. The Fire Museum of Texas in Beaumont—boasts the largest hydrant in the country.
For cats:
1. Biggest ball of twine in the world, Cawker City, Kansas. Don’t expect to be welcomed back.
2. At home, under the bed.
A dog, particularly an exotic like Charley, is a bond between strangers. Many conversations en route began with “What degree of a dog is that?”
—“Travels with Charley: In Search of America,” John Steinbeck
Random Clawings
Adoptions
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.
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.
Both kitties were scheduled for euthanasia at the shelter and have been put up for adoption by Friends of Long Beach animals.
Events
July 20, Breeding and Transfer Workshop, ACS
If you’re 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’s breeding and transfer process and the procedures for obtaining permits. RSVP to Susanne Delima at (562) 570-3087 to attend. 10:30 a.m.–noon, 7700 East Spring St.
[http://www.longbeach.gov/acs]
July 30, Friends of Long Beach Animals 20th Anniversary Celebration
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’s office. 6:30 p.m., Signal Hill Community Center, 1780 E. Hill St. Signal Hill.
[http://www.friendsoflongbeachanimals.org]
Ongoing—Pet Literacy at ACS
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–Sundays, 2–3 p.m., 7700 East Spring St.
[http://www.longbeach.gov/acs]
Support Needed—Tuesday, July 14, International Day of Action for Dogs and Cats in Korea
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.–8 p.m. Visit this website for info and FAQs.
AB 241 and SB 250 Hearing Dates Announced
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 for facts and info.
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 for facts and information on making phone calls and sending letters to our legislators. One call’s all it takes.