- First stop, your veterinarian so that you know your pet is healthy for travel. If you are traveling by air you will need a current health certificate and immunization history. Find out if there are dangers to your pet endemic to the area. Tranquilizing a pet for travel is not recommended but this is the time to speak to your vet about it.

- Feed your pet a 3 or 4 hours prior to the trip. It may help keep them from getting motion sick.

- Be sure your pet wears a collar with a tag imprinted with your home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant travel or contact information.

- Accustom your pet to the crate prior by using it at home; reward her when she spends time in it. Put a piece of clothing that smells like you in.

- Put together a Pet Supply Kit: waste bags; favorite toys; a blanket or article of your clothing that smells familiar; and food. If you can bring water with you it is best, if not, stick to bottled water.

- Pack a simple Pet First-aid Kit that includes assorted bandages, antiseptic cream, an anti-diarrheal medication that is safe for pets (ask your veterinarian to suggest a product), gauze squares, and the phone numbers of your veterinarian, a national poison control hotline, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital. Click here for a list of Emergency Veterinarian locations throughout the US.

- Photo of your pet in case you get separated.

- Your emergency information in case you are unable to speak for or care for your pet.

- Perform a daily "health check" on your pet when away from home. In unfamiliar surroundings, your pet's appetite, energy, and disposition may change. Watch for unusual discharges from the nose and eyes, excessive scratching or biting of any body part, abnormal elimination, or excessive water consumption. Visit a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.

Travel By Car

- If your dog has a problem with carsickness, your veterinarian can prescribe medication that will help it feel more comfortable during long trips.

- Regardless of the length of the trip, pets should not be left unattended in a car.

- Use a restraint. Loose pets in the car are distracting and a hazard; if you’re petting them or looking around for them, you’re not paying attention to the road. In an accident, pets, like humans can get catapulted or crushed if they’re not properly restrained. A pet can weigh up to 30 times its weight upon impact while traveling at only 35 mph! There are many options: crate/carrier, pet restraint/harness and/or barrier for your car. It is a much safer way for your pet to travel. Accustom your dog to his seatbelt harness by attaching a leash and taking him for short walks while wearing it. Offer your dog a treat and praise at the end of the walk to associate a positive experience with wearing the harness. Take your pet for short trips using the crate or harness so that it becomes a safe place for them. Be sure to always secure crates so they don’t slide or shift in the event of a quick stop.

- Take the leash off when putting your dog in the crate but keep it handy.

- Do not let them ride in the front seat if the airbag is activated.

- Don’t allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. This can subject him to inner ear damage and lung infections, and he could be injured by flying objects.

- Plan to stop every two hours or so to give your pet a chance to exercise, have a light meal and water, as well as, relieve themselves.

- Be careful at rest stops and parking areas:

• Make sure your pet is on a leash or restrained before those doors are open. Have a leash on the floor, hook the leash on the collar first then unbuckle the dog or let them out of their crate. People and cars are coming in and out of the area

• This is not a time to use retractable leash, instead keep the dog close to you. You need to have complete control of your pet.

• Dogs who are kept indoors most of the time may not have developed callouses on their paws and the hot pavement could be harmful to their paws. You may want to carry the dog from the car to a grassy area.

• Don’t leave your pet alone in a parked car. It could put the pet’s health in danger due to rising heat.

• Never let your dog drink anything from the ground at a rest stop or in a parking lot.

• Take your pet with you. The heat could kill it even with the windows down. Pet thefts are also on the rise, especially purebred dogs.

Travel by Air

- Take Direct Flights. Avoid holidays and school vacations. Travel early morning or late afternoon.

- Find out what the airline requires and follow the guidelines specifically. If you don't your travel plans may run amuck at check-in. Older pets and snub nose breeds do not do well in heat so they have more stringent guidelines. Some airlines do not allow pets to travel in cargo during certain times of the year.

- Book your pet when you book your flight. Some airlines have a limit to the number of pets allowed in the cabin or in cargo. Travel on the same flight as your pet.

- If you live in a major city, look into “Pet Airways” an airline specifically for pets. They fly in the cabin.

- Be sure the airline attendants know you are traveling with a pet, often the pilot will check on them for you before takeoff.

- Choose the proper crate for travel. Make sure it meets the criteria of the airline you will be traveling on. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association: Defective kennels are the most common cause of escaped or injured animals during air travel.

- A couple of things about approved transport crates:

• They must be large enough to allow the animal to stand (without touching the top of the cage), sit erect, turn around, and lie down in a natural position.

• Latch securely.

• Have a solid, leak-proof bottom covered with absorbent material.

• Be appropriately and clearly labeled. Include your name, home address, home phone number, and destination contact information, as well as a designation of "Live Animals," with arrows indicating the crate's upright position. In addition, carry your pet's photo and health information with you on the plane for easy identification in the event the cage label is lost.

• Be adequately ventilated so that airflow is not impeded.

Finally, research your destination

- Are your friends, relatives or hotel expecting your pet? Bring along a portable kennel for use in hotel rooms or the homes of friends or relatives who are not comfortable allowing your pet to roam freely when no one is home.

- Find out what amenities your pet-friendly hotel offers. Be sure to ask about their policies. For example: The Colony Hotel in Kennebunkport provides pet owners with a pet blanket, unlimited treats, biodegradable waste bags and information about local pet friendly locations. Upon check-in guests are given local veterinary emergency information, recommended shops, pet sitters, groomers and dog-walkers. They have a dog friendly beach and allow wide access to the grounds. Pets are allowed to stay in the rooms without their family but the front desk staff requires a phone number where the guest can be reached and they must return if the pet is making undue noise.

Mostly, have fun!!

by Gail Crowell, Program Coordinator

The Animal Welfare Society, West Kennebunk, Maine

Content courtesy of: AVMA, HSUS, ASPCA, Delta Airlines, and Pet Airways