Over 55 million American households have at least one dog and more than 45 million have at least one feline. Comparing the numbers of pet owners to the number of Americans who travel every year, the odds are good that some of those people want to take their pets with them when they hit the road.
So what do you do if you are one of those who wants to take your dog on vacation to Yosemite or visit family out-of-state? Good news! There are options — and some are budget-friendly.
Here are some ideas and choices for traveling with a pet.
Public Transportation
Public transportation, which includes boats, trains and busses, are the most budget-friendly way to hit the road with a pet. But public transportation can be restrictive. It is also hard to find information, so call ahead before just showing up with a small pet. If the transport does permit pets, it usually has to be in a carrier on your lap. The good news? Small pets, in a carrier, on your lap can usually travel free. Teddy bear puppies or Shichon puppies are one example of dogs that can be easily carried. Florida Puppies provides these kinds of pets. You can visit their site to check out the different kinds of puppies.
Some travel restrictions exclude service dogs which are legally permitted anywhere with their person. For example, Amtrak and Greyhound don’t permit pets other than service dogs.
Long Car Trip
A car trip is easy. Pack it up, toss everyone in and go. The downside is cars get cramped, some animals get carsick and there is a very real health danger leaving your pet in the car.
The best thing is you have the freedom to stop as much as you want. Unless you are camping, look for a pet-friendly hotel and be prepared to pay pet fees. Hotels, as a rule of thumb, charge an additional fee per night for each pet. Some have restrictions on the number and size of pets. Don’t be shocked if a hotel requires a cleaning deposit as well.
