Ask Abigail

Abigail is Mid County Travel's special pet, she is a Tibiten Terrier and a very experienced traveler. Abigail knows the do's and dont's of traveling with your pet. From airport check in to resorts that are pet friendly.

Airlines -

There are certain legal guidelines and restrictions for pet air travel. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) govern air travel for pets. The airlines themselves have different regulations; always contact your airline well in advance to review the particular procedures and requirements.

Airlines stop shipping pets as checked baggage during extreme hot and cold weather. Many of the airlines do have special programs, though, that allow you to ship your pets as cargo, during the times of the day when the temperatures are the most moderate. The best airlines generally have written rules for pet travel. These guidelines are evidence that the airline has given a good deal of thought to the safe transport of animals. Small pets often can be crated and taken on board the plane with you. Larger animals must stay in the cargo area. No matter what airline carrier you use, there are important guidelines to consider.

The pet should be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned.

The pet cannot be ill, violent, or in physical distress.

According to the ASPCA and many veterinarians, as well as most airlines, pets should not be sedated for air travel. If you are concerned about your pet being over anxious during travel, then please discuss this with your veterinarian. Make sure that your pet’s nails are trimmed to avoid snagging on the travel crate’s door or some other object.

The pet should have all necessary health certificates and documentation.

The travel crate must meet the airline’s standards and be large enough for the pet to lie down comfortably, turn around, and stand freely. Mark the crate with "Live Animal - This Side Up" and include your name, address, and telephone number in case she gets lost or misplaced in transit. You also should include the name, address, and telephone number of your destination. New Regulations - Containers constructed after October 1, 2000 must meet the following requirements -- The door must be constructed of welded or cast metal of sufficient gauge or thickness to prevent the animal from bending or distorting the door. The door hinge and locking pins must engage the kennel by at least 1.5 cm (5/8") beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door opening where the pins are fitted. The above requirements do not affect plastic pet kennels that were made prior to October 1, 2000.

Your pet may be more comfortable if you place an old towel, blanket, or toys in the crate.

Try to book a non-stop flight and take temperatures into consideration. During the summer, fly at night when it’s often cooler. In the winter, fly during the day when it’s warmer.

Certain short-nosed dogs such as pugs cannot breathe well in airplane cargo areas. Avoid flying with these particular breeds.

Do not feed your pet just before traveling due to the potential for an upset stomach during the flight. Give your pet frozen water or, if possible, some ice cubes that will melt slowly (and hopefully will not dump out during boarding).

Plan your trip well in advance and make sure you follow all airline regulations. Plan to check-in at the airport at least 3 hours before the flight departs.

Rental Cars -

The great news for traveling pets is that many automobile rental companies are pet friendly! There are only a few things that you need to remember to avoid an extra cleaning fee.

Simply stated, your pet cannot damage the car's interior. While this caution might sound reasonable, you wouldn't believe some of the stories we've heard about rambunctious pets that took out their angst on the rental car. We've also heard tales of pets that did not like confinement in an unfamiliar space, so they decided to redesign the upholstery with a little clawing and chewing.

Less damaging, but equally bothersome to car rental employees, is the excessive amount of hair that some dogs leave behind. If the rental car staff has to spend extra time cleaning your car as a result of a shedding animal, they will charge you an additional fee.

We offer a few simple suggestions to help reduce excessive wear and tear on the rental car. The best idea is to put your dog or cat into a travel crate or behind a barrier/gate when driving. This constraint keeps them safe and more comfortable. Placing an old blanket or sheet over the seat will reduce the amount of hair left in the car after your trip is over. Toys and chew sticks are good distractions, although our dogs seem to get their greatest pleasure looking out the car windows at other pets motoring down the highway.

Never leave your pet in a car on a warm or hot day!

Try to park the car in the shade and leave the windows open to provide ample ventilation. Many specialty shops/catalogues sell small, portable, battery-operated fans that affix to a partially opened window to help the car stay even cooler.

Do not leave your dog for long intervals. Check on her frequently to ensure her safety and to see that the blazing sun hasn’t shifted to shine directly on your car.

Before you leave the car, fill her bowl with cold water to ease any heat effects. Heat Stroke: If your pet exhibits the effects of prolonged heat exposure (heavy breathing, unstable walking, or a dazed and confused appearance), consult a veterinarian immediately.

Freezing winter temperatures are also cause for concern. Make sure your pet has enough blankets or bedding to keep her warm in the car.

There are many things that pet owners can do to make others more comfortable with their pet. Your dog may be under perfect voice control, but for everyone's comfort, always leash her, especially at rest stops. Dogs spook easily in new environments and can become unpredictable. You wouldn't want to loose a dog that bolted into traffic.

Accommodations are the most tricky part of pet travel. When pets are allowed, it is the small pet that is preferred. Anyone with a medium to large dog has a more difficult time checking into a hotel. Nearly half of the pet-friendly accommodations they recommend place limits on the size of animals. When making reservations, be prepared to be interviewed about your pet. Practice patience and take the extra time to talk with the manager about your pet. This discussion also permits you to review the accommodation’s pet policies and programs with a live person. Some accommodations might ask you to sign a pet liability release form, while others just give you guidelines on pet etiquette. The best are those that offer pet treats and other special amenities to their four-legged guests, including homemade biscuits, meals, beds, or bowls.

Never leave your pet alone in the room. If management makes an exception to this policy, you can do a few simple things to keep your furry friend comfortable. Provide your pet with an assortment of toys and turn on the television or radio to give her some sense of companionship.Bring bedding or a portable carrier for your pet.Do not allow your pet on the furniture or beds.Feed and provide water for your pet in the bathroom or on a tiled or hardwood floor. Not all pets are neat and tidy at meal time.Walk your dogs off the property and always clean up after them.Health regulations prohibit pets from areas where food is prepared or served. Don’t bring your pet to breakfast and don’t assume that she is welcome in the accommodation’s public areas.Keep your pet leashed on the accommodation’s property. While your pet may be under perfect voice control, other guests may become apprehensive when they see an unleashed pet.

Cruises -

While there is one cruise line that will tolerate pets, there are many reasons that cruise lines cannot accept them. Most of the countries the cruise ships visit have strict quarantine or entry requirements for pets. Secondly, cruise ships generally have very strict health codes to follow as well as poor accommodation configurations for pets-separate areas where pets can exercise, relieve themselves, etc…

The only cruise line that accepts pets is Cunard's QE2; however, they do so on a very limited basis. Before you leap at the chance to cruise with your pet, you might want to read the fine print. This following is the official word from the cruise line: The QE2 only accepts pets on transatlantic crossings, but not on the first or last Transatlantic crossing of the year.

1. The kennel is located mid-ship on the Sun Deck.

2. There are 12 kennels (two levels of six).

3. Kennels can be used for cats, dogs and other small animals. It is NOT normal procedure to put more than one animal in a kennel, but it would be the responsibility of the owner if they insisted.

4. Food is provided and the kennel attendant can prepare any special requirements.

5. The shielded open-deck area, fitted with a lamppost and a fire hydrant, is available to exercise pets. Animals are not permitted on any other open deck, public area or stateroom.

6. Prior to sailing, necessary documentation must be presented to the ship before livestock can travel.

 7. Passengers may provide own bed/bedding for their pets.

8. Pets are kept in the kennel during the crossing and regularly exercised.

Visiting Hours: The kennel's visiting hours is as follows, however with prior arrangement it is possible for the attendant to be in the kennels outside of these hours to open the cage:

7:30 AM - 9:30 a.m. 11:00 AM - 12:00 p.m. 3:30 PM - 6:30 p.m.