Angels Herald Magazine Page 15

That said, she states that "travel time may make air travel the better choice for an individual pet. If you are
going coast to coast, flying certainly lessens the amount of time the pet will be confined and potentially
stressed. It's important to consider that the driver of the car is an amateur, sharing the roads with other
amateurs. The airline pilot is a professional, and the traffic around the plane is not only piloted by other
professionals, but also managed by air traffic controllers."

4. You should always administer a sedative or tranquilizer to your pet before traveling with them.

Both Dr. Coger and Dr. Weber agree that this is false, even if many people commonly accept it as wisdom.

"Sedatives and tranquilizers have an effect on heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory function, balance,
response time and even temperament," says Dr. Coger. "There can also be a health risk for pets with
conditions such as epilepsy or cardiovascular disease. Your pet should be at his normal physical condition
for travel."

That said, there are other preparations that pet owners can make before traveling.

"Training and acclimating your pet to travel is vital," says Dr. Coger. "That means learning how to be in
a carrier or crate, to urinate and defecate on lead or in a travel litterbox, and cope with the noises and
motions of engines and the road. The more time and energy invested in training, the less stressful travel
will be."

Dr. Weber has some additional tips for those taking the family pet on vacation this summer. It's important,
he states, to "get your pet accustomed to his or her crate well before the trip. Make it a comfort zone for
them which will reduce stress otherwise associated with a new environment. Make sure your contact
information, including your flight information and seat number, is attached to the carrier. The carrier must
be strong and give your pet sufficient room to move. Make sure your pet has water. Freezing ice will help it
last longer."

He also suggests asking if the airline will allow you to watch your pet being loaded or unloaded from the
cargo hold. It's important to notify your flight attendant that you are traveling with your pet. If the flight
experiences delays, check with the crew to make sure the cargo heating or cooling system is operating.

Long before you go, he says, "check with your veterinarian to make sure your pet is healthy enough to fly,
and has no respiratory or other issues that will invite complications."

5. A "pet-friendly hotel" is just another name for a hotel that allow pets.

The term pet-friendly is used to mean many things in the lodging industry. A pet-friendly hotel can run the
gamut from properties that simply allow pets "with or without restriction and fees, to catering to the owner
traveling with their pet," says Dr. Coger. "I have stayed in hotels where the pet-friendly rooms were also the
smoking rooms," an experience that she describes as "awful!" She's also stayed in "hotels that placed dog
treats, poop bags, and directions to the nearest veterinary clinic in my room."

It's an even bigger divide between hotels that merely accept pets and those who roll out the red carpet
when the luxury element comes into play. A classic example of that, Dr. Coger says is "during the Westminster
Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City." For those who can afford it, there are hotels that "provide all sorts
of dog services, from a dog room service menu to bathing and grooming stations, dog treadmills, massage
therapy, and even indoor dog potty facilities."