Thanksgiving travel fun? Take the dog ... or cat or bird

Thanksgiving travel with pets doesn't have to be a recipe for disaster. It's easier these days to take your furry friend ? just be sure that they're invited.

By Sue Manning,?Associated Press / November 19, 2012

Thanksgiving travel with a furry companion can complicate travel plans; but doesn't have to be a disaster. Here, Chula, a Shetland Sheepdog and veteran traveler, at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, Sept. 12, 2012.

Courtesy of Sheron Long/AP

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Travel?for humans during holidays is tough enough: Long lines, crowds everywhere, extra bags full of presents. Throw a?pet?in the mix, and it's a recipe for disaster.

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But Sheron Long, a frequent?traveler?and author of "Dog Trots Globe ? To Paris and Provence," says it's worth the trouble.

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?"Every trip was better when Chula could be with us," she said of her Shetland sheepdog. "She was so excited, I could imagine her dog's eye view of the world. It causes you to explore and go see different things and meet people."

The US Department of Transportation estimates more than 2 million?pets?and other animals are transported by air each year in America.?Pets?aren't allowed on Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses or cruise lines, but they can go on many regional train, bus, and boat lines.

The majority of four-legged carry-on passengers are dogs, but some airlines allow rabbits, birds, and other small animals. Experts say before including a?pet?in?travel?plans, consider whether it would enjoy the experience.

"Some dogs don't like to?travel, some love it," said Kelly E. Carter, the?pet?travel?expert for AOL's Paw Nation and a Chihuahua owner. "You have to know your?pet."

Caroline Golon's two Persian cats "are not big fans of car?travel" ? the only way they can?travel?since their breed is banned by many airlines ? so they don't go on trips. Ms. Golon said when they?travel, the family stops at pet-friendly hotels rather than drive nonstop.

"Stopping overnight gives them a chance to use the litter box at their leisure and eat and drink comfortably," said Golon, the founder of High Paw Media.

Gwen Cooper, the author of "Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat," said animals pick up on their owners' moods, "which means if you're nervous, your cat or dog is going to be nervous too. The best way to avoid being nervous is to prepare you and your?pet?ahead of time and think through as many contingencies as possible."

For eligible cats, as well as dogs, airlines have size requirements for?pets?in the cabin, so a small?pet?must fit in a carrier that can be stowed under a seat and larger ones must be checked in. Ms. Long's dog weighs 30 pounds, (13 1/2 kilograms) so 9-year-old Chula has to fly in cargo.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/bSrTodEYzs0/Thanksgiving-travel-fun-Take-the-dog-or-cat-or-bird

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