Traveling With Fido and Fluffy

Have you thought about traveling with your pet?

Many moons ago, I took a pair of cats with me when I moved to Italy. My husband and I did our best to plan ahead for our pets' comfort. Still, it wasn't a perfect experience. We arrived at the airport to pick up our pets at about 12:45 P.M. and discovered that the airport vet had to see the cats before we could take them with us. Unfortunately, it was time for riposo - the afternoon "siesta" - and we were forced to sit in a waiting area, listening to our cats wail, until the vet's office reopened at 4:00.

Of course, we finally did retrieve our cats, and we all managed to survive the long train ride to our new home in southern Italy. We were somewhat better prepared when we took the cats back to the U.S. three years later.

If you're planning to travel with pets, there are some things you can do to prepare in advance. Begin by reading the Air Transport Association's excellent information on air travel for your pet. You may also wish to check the Aviation Consumer Protection Division's Air Travel Consumer Reports to read about airline animal incidents. You can find the animal incident reports, which cover animal deaths and injuries, on the last page of each month's Air Travel Consumer Report.

Once you've selected an airline, contact the customer service desk to learn about specific requirements for transporting your pet. You may need to book your pet's trip well in advance, especially if you're flying during peak vacation times.

Be sure to purchase the correct type of pet carrier or kennel. If you plan to bring your small pet into the passenger cabin, the kennel must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. These days, that's pretty small. You can find out more about pet kennels by reading the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's APHIS Guide to Traveling With Your Pets.

Most importantly, pack a lot of patience and bring along a positive attitude. It takes time to check your pet in at the airline counter, and even longer to pick your faithful friend up at the end of your flight.