More than 23 million American families — nearly 1 in 5 nationwide — have adopted a pet during the pandemic. And now, many of these Americans will try to take their first vacation with a cat, dog, or bird.
are you ready?
Traveling with pets is one of the most controversial topics I have ever tackled. From fake emotional support animals to annoying owners, fur always flies when I write about animals and travel.
But it’s a fair question: What happens when you try to take all those endemic animals on vacation with you? Should you even care? And if you do, what should you know?
“Traveling with pets has become much more difficult after the pandemic,” says Josh Snead, CEO of Rainwalk Pet Insurance.
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There is a long list of pet travel challenges, including new fees and stricter rules for traveling with animals. Summer is particularly difficult because airlines have restrictions on transporting animals during hot weather. Perhaps the biggest obstacle is the explosion of fake rabies documents from pet importers, which makes it difficult to move any animal across the border, says Snead.
“Often, routines make it so expensive that it is no longer feasible,” he adds.
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What happens when all those pets are traveling this summer?
Traveling with pets isn’t always the best idea. If you’re traveling around the country and need to take a rover with you, that’s fine. If you have a documented disability and have a trained and well-behaved service animal, okay. But I’ve never seen a dog or cat “asking” to go on vacation. In fact, if they know they’ll be huddled in a carry bag for hours or locked in a hotel room, they’d probably prefer not to go on vacation with you.
But even if a small percentage of the population that owns pets is traveling with an animal this summer, things can get interesting. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 39% of American households own dogs. Another 25% own cats – or it might be more accurate to say they are cat-owned. These are pre-pandemic numbers. So imagine what happens when they hit the road.
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Here’s what they’ll encounter:
More pet fees. About half of US hotels allow pets, according to CanMyPetStay.com, a website that tracks pet policies. Of those, 95% charge a pet fee, which averages $43 per night or $94 per stay. Randy Greencorn, who publishes the site, advises pet owners to contact the hotel in advance to confirm that pets are allowed. “And ask the hotel to add your pet to the reservation to avoid complications at check-in,” he adds.
new laws. Janice Costa, owner of Canine Camp Getaway, says she’s seen all kinds of new pet rules lately. They range from a higher cleaning fee to a fee per pet rather than per room. Also new in some hotels are dog size limits. “Other hotel chains now have policies that limit guests to one dog per room,” she says. “And more hotels seem to have a policy that no dogs are left in the room unattended, even in a crate. This can be a problem if you want to go out to dinner or do something non-dog related while traveling.”
Inexperienced owners. Many Americans will be traveling with their pets for the first time. A new survey by Harvest Hosts, the RV membership program, finds that only half (52%) of travelers base their travel plans on accommodating their pets. This means that some pet owners will leave their dogs and cats in their hotel rooms or RV while they are enjoying their vacation, which is not an animal vacation. You can do nothing about the inexperienced owners. But you can plan in advance if you take your pet.
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New Pet Programs. Hotels know this is going to be a big summer for pet travel. For example, Kimpton Hotels recently introduced a new program called KimptonxWag. It’s a partnership with the mobile platform Wag! , which brings together pet owners and professional pet caregivers to get up, sit and walk. If you are staying on a property in Kimpton, you can easily find someone to take your best friend for a walk or accompany them while they dine outside. “Once you decide your dog is coming with you on the road, you need to make sure you think carefully about the hotel you are going to stay in,” says Nick Gregory, senior vice president of hotel management at Kimpton.
Tip for traveling with your pet: you probably shouldn’t
This is a lot to consider before traveling with a pet this summer. However, many pet owners think about their vacation needs before their pets do. They travel to places where pets are not welcome or will not be comfortable.
Taking a successful trip with your pet requires more planning than a regular vacation, says Sasha Armstrong, creator of The State of Mind’s Dog Tutorial.
“It’s a great idea to choose a place in nature if possible or to try and choose a place to stay that serves your dogs’ needs as much as your own,” she says.
And if you can’t? Have a friend at home take care of your furry companion while you’re gone and save your pet – and you – unnecessary stress.
Summer Pet Travel Checklist
Food and emergency communications. “Plan ahead to make sure you bring the things a pet needs home on the trip,” advises Darcia Kostyuk, senior veterinarian for Origin Pet Foods. This includes not only the usual items, such as food, dishes, leashes, collars, carriers, trash tubs and bags, candy, toys, medicine, and blankets. Kostiuk also recommends having phone numbers of trusted vets and local emergency veterinary clinics on hand.
documentation. “It’s important to bring all the paperwork,” says Jan Shafirov, a spokeswoman for American Humane. Includes any required vaccinations and health certificates. Shafirov, who owns five rescue dogs, notes that airlines are special when it comes to documentation. “Foreign dogs in particular are having a more difficult time getting into the United States,” she adds.
Pet travel insurance. A new report from travel insurance company Battleface finds that 44% of Americans want the ability to customize travel insurance policies to suit their own needs, including a pet travel package. Some travel insurance plans offer coverage for pet-related expenses. For example, if your return flight is at least six hours late and you can’t pick up your dog or cat on the scheduled day, Seven Corners RoundTrip Choice will cover up to $500 for kennel fees or expenses. You can also consider a “cancel for any reason” policy. “Maybe your pet is older, or you’re afraid they’ll get sick while you’re away,” says Angela Borden, Seven Corners product specialist.