pet travel news

As in-cabin pet travel fees rise, pet owners are finding themselves resorting to smuggling to keep costs down. A recent report from Christopher Elliott at the Seattle Times found that more pet owners have been caught sneaking their pets on planes as a way to avoid airline fees.

"When I asked why I had to pay a fee in order to stuff my dog under the seat in front of me, I was told it was their policy," [Boggs] said. "I concluded that it's really just a ploy to charge another fee."  A lot of travelers have been arriving at the same conclusion lately, although exact numbers are difficult to come by. Instead of paying extra "pet fees" to hotels or airlines, they're spiriting their animal companions into their bags or under blankets in the hope of saving a few bucks. They also are bending the truth when it comes to their pets, said Ami Moore, a Chicago-based canine behaviorist. One wealthy client recently offered Moore $10,000 to "certify" her dog as a service animal, which would have given the animal a free ride.

What do you think?  Have you ever smuggled your pet into a hotel?  What about onto an airplane?

"Ready to go for a drive?" 

We all ask our pets that on a pretty regular basis, but we often forget the most important part of the drive: making sure that our pets are as secure in the vehicle as the human passengers are.  Finding a safe, pet-friendly vehicle these days is easier thanks to more auto manufacturers becoming aware of the important role pets play in our trips near and far!

Bark Buckle UP has awarded the Pet Safe Choice Vehicle Awards "TOP DOG" Vehicle of the Year award to the Ford Edge this week.  From the release:

"Most people don't think about it, but in only a 35 mph accident with a 60-pound pet it becomes a 2,700-pound projectile. This will injure the pet, passengers, driver or the pet may escape the vehicle and cause a second accident or become agitated and bite the first responder that is on scene doing their job," stated Selter.

"With more than 340,000 vehicles sold since it was originally launched in late 2006, the Ford Edge has been meeting the needs of customers who demand style, technology, performance and capability in a compelling package," said Brett Burin, Ford Edge Marketing Manager. "We look ahead with excitement this summer to the arrival of the new 2011 Edge, which adds even more revolutionary technology and class-leading performance. And with a suite of safety features, flexible seating and nearly 70 cubic feet of cargo space, the Ford Edge is perfect for those traveling with pets."

There's a good article up on MSNBC.com by Harriet Baskas about travelers with pets whose behavior can sometimes get hairy:

According to the 2009/2010 National Pet Owners Survey, more than 71 million U.S. households own a pet. Many people consider their pets to be part of the family, and when it’s time for a business or leisure trip, many dogs, cats and birds go right along.  While there are an increasing number of hotels, attractions and even bars and restaurants with policies welcoming pets, some travelers still feel the need to chew up the rules.

The article goes on to list several examples of people pushing the pet-friendly limits, everything from sneaking in monkeys to letting their dog swim in the hotel pool.  If pet travel was a puppy training class, that behavior definitely wouldn't pass the test.

We've mentioned before (see: "Pet Travel Etiquette:  Mind Your P's and Oops!") that pet owners who take their pets along with them on trips are ultimately ambassadors for the entire pet travel industry.  Picking up after your pet, making sure you are aware of the local rules and regulations and planning well in advance are all part of making sure that Fido gets a return invite to your favorite pet-friendly chateau.

Last year, we were ranked as one of Inc. Magazine's fastest growing privately owned companies in America.  We're hoping to make the list again this year, and our entry caught the eye of the editors who featured PetRelocation.com as their "Applicant of the Week" this week. Reporter Josh Spiro discussed the rise of pet travel trends with our CEO Kevin O'Brien.

From the write-up:

Kevin O’Brien’s profession might not be the oldest, but it’s up there. “The animal transportation industry has been around since transportation,” he says laughing. That said transporting pets is a much more nascent field, having only taken off in the past five to 10 years. While the company focuses on transporting dogs and cats for corporate employees who relocate for work, its motto is “any pet, anywhere, any time” and so far it hasn’t had to turn down a job.

Last year, Pet Relocation was ranked No. 777 on the Inc. 5000 list and this year, according to O’Brien “we hope to break the 500 barrier.” With a prime domain name and a growing number of people “starting to accept the idea of live animal relocation,” business has never been better.

Read more of the article here.

Last night we received an important notice concerning pets traveling to South Africa from the EU from our agents.

Beginning on 1 April 2010, all dogs traveling to South Africa from EU countries must be tested for all five of the following parasites with negative results:

1. Brucella canis
2. Trypanosoma evansi
3. Babesia gibsoni
4. Dirofilaria immitis
5. Leishmania

Felines remain unaffected by these new regulations.

This change has come to effect due to the EU open border policies.  Pets coming from other countries will still only need to be tested for parasites which are present in their country.

For example, pets traveling from the US to South Africa still only need to be tested for all of the parasites listed above except for trypanosoma evansi, as it is not a parasite found in the US.

If you have any questions about the new South African pet travel requirements, feel free to email us.

Flying just got a little easier for furry travelers going in and out of Atlanta.  In a new Ground Transportation center that recently opened, a 1000 square-foot fenced in dog park was designed to make transit easier for pets arriving and departing from Hartsfield-Jackson.  Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport now adds to the growing list of pet-friendly airports for pet travelers, including New York's JFK Airport that opened a pet relief area in July.

Mary-Alice Pomputius, from DogJaunt, has a guest blog up at Will My Dog Hate Me? that details some great training tips for preparing a pet for travel.  If you've never worked on vocal commands to help your dog travel more easily, now's the time to start!