It’s becoming more and more popular these days to take your pet with you on vacation, and pet owners want to keep their pets safe and comfortable. To facilitate this, I just got an awesome pet carrier from Sherpa Pet! Mine is the Legacy Ultimate model and it is SUPER CUTE. My cat Rocky can now ride in style! They also have many other models which are very reasonably priced. (Rocky is frequently featured on my daughter’s @dailycats Instagram and in nearly all of my MomsMinivan Youtube vids.)
My pet carrier is a soft sided carrier. It’s light weight, strong, and comfortable for my pet all at the same time. I especially love the super soft removable pad on the bottom that can be easily washed. The side pocket is perfect for holding small items like treats, leashes, and vaccination records that are usually required when you travel.
There is a top opening so your tiny dog can stick his head out while you’re carrying him around for a great view, and then zip it up when he has to be tucked away for takeoff. To prevent him from jumping out, there is a clip on the inside where you can hook his harness and keep him safe.
Carriers by Sherpa are airline/subway/rail approved for carrying your pet on-board. This is the only pet carrier company that has a partnership with all the major airlines. So, if you’re getting ready to take Fifi on a plane ride to a far off exotic destination like the beautiful Waikiki hotels, you’ll want to check out the Guaranteed On Board program before traveling.
Truth be told, my cat does not usually accompany us on many long trips. He does, however, take a lot of mini-vacations with us to relatives houses. For travelers with small dogs, I cannot think of anything better than this soft sided carrier. One bit of advice: do not just show up at the airport with your pet! Be sure to check out all the requirements and fees of your airline for carrying a pet on board BEFORE you head to the airport so that you won’t get turned away and for the safety of your pet.
Happy travels to all those furry travelers!
More Tips:
Here are a few handy tips from the pet travel experts at Sherpa Pet Group to make the most of airline travel with your feline or canine:
- Book your reservations early and check the airline’s latest pet policies.
- Obtain a general health certificate and a rabies vaccination certificate from your veterinarian within 10 days of your departure.
- Choose nonstop flights if at all possible to help eliminate pet anxiety.
- Early morning or late evening flights work best in warmer weather.
- Pets younger than eight weeks old or weaned less than five days prior to the flight are prohibited.
- Allow plenty of time to exercise your pet, and give them a “potty break” when you arrive at the airport and before you enter the security area.
- Avoid giving your pet a large meal prior to the flight. Instead, bring along healthy, all-natural and easily digestible snacks
If traveling by car, here are a few rules of the road:
- Never allow your cat to roam freely inside your vehicle. Always keep it secured in a carrier.
- Always restrain your dogs in a carrier, or with a harness or pet car seat. And never attach a restraining device to a pet’s collar. Always use a harness to prevent injury.
- Stop every few hours to stretch your legs and provide your pet a much-appreciated pit stop. Never let your dog jump out of the car without a leash.
- Bring your own supply of clean water and your pet’s bowls, as fresh water is not always handy or convenient when you need to stop.
- Encourage your pet to consume small amounts of food and water, but don’t allow them to overeat or drink if you still have more driving to do. Reserve your pet’s main meal for the end of the day, preferably when you have reached your final destination for the night.
- Be considerate and practice good “petiquette” by cleaning up after your pet. Always keep a supply of pick-up bags with you.
- NEVER leave a pet in a parked car.
- Pack a pet first-aid kit, your pet’s medical records, medications and health certificate.
- Make sure your pets are micro-chipped, and bring the chip ID number and telephone number to call if they become lost. Be sure to have a travel tag on your pet’s collar.
Happy travels to all of you taking your pets with you!
All articles on this website are copyright © Momsminivan.com. All images associated with articles are also copyright and may not be republished on other websites or print media without permission from Laurel Regnier