Have Pets, Will Travel

written on January 18th, 2016 by Rafia Abubakar

How many of you include the welfare of your pets when planning a trip? It can be quite a dilemma! If you have enough people left at home to care for your pets while you’re away then consider yourself very lucky. Most people might not think much of it, but when the pet is part of the family, leaving them behind can be a tough decision. Yes, even if it’s just for a few days.

So what to do?

Dial A Friend.

Our answer to this dilemma came in the form of trustworthy friends. Thank goodness we have someone we can trust to take care of them little ones. Why not make a list of people you think would agree to look after your pets whilst you’re away, like a babysitter.

But what if no one’s available?

Pet Staycations is a Thing now.

I knew there was something like this in Europe and the USA. I was pleasantly surprised to know that there is such a thing here in Cebu as well. Another cat lady friend told me that some of the local veterinary clinics and grooming centers offer this service. You can ask your vet about it on your next visit for rates per stay and the services included. This is helpful information especially for pets who need special attention.

Too attached? Having a case of separation anxiety?

Take Them With You.

It’s nice to know there are more places becoming pet-friendly. So why not look it up as you plan your itinerary and you plan on bringing your furry (or scaly?) friends along.

Some of the things you need to consider when traveling with a pet:

• If you’re traveling by car, this shouldn’t be much of a hassle. You just need to remember, they need food and water along the way and they need to stretch and relieve themselves.
• Check ahead with bus or train stations if they allow pets. As this is public transport, be mindful of them and do your fellow commuters a favor by making sure your pets are secured next to you and you clean after their mess.
• Traveling by sea is a better choice for your pet if traveling by land is not an option. This might be the safest and least stressful for a pet as compared to traveling on a plane.
• Most airlines have their policies for transporting animals. But most will only allow the animals be transported via cargo and not in the cabin or as checked in baggage. If going abroad, you may need to have your pet microchipped and have a pet passport along with their clean bill of health from the vet.

Here are some links for some extensive reading for flying your pet:

1. How To Travel with a Pet (Local/International). – PAWS
2. Airline Pet Travel Policies (Cebu Pacifi). – Pet Travel
3. Bringing Pets to The Philippines. – Philippine Consulate AU
4. Philippines Pet Passport Regulations. – Pet Travel

Take into consideration that traveling by plane for any animal can be very stressful so make sure you get a clear card from your vet. Take all necessary steps to make it easy on your pets.

Our pets can be more than just the mascot of the house, they can be family. And sometimes they are the best companion you can have. Don’t we owe it to them to treat them well? So think about the next road trip, maybe they can tag along if it’s not a hassle for you and them too.

Photo by BrevisPhotography