In the know: Travels with Spot

[bigdoglover]

KRT Wire

BY JUDY WILEY
Knight Ridder Newspapers

After reading what the experts have to say about pet travel, I decided we were lucky. There are problems out there I didn't even think about. Here are tips for traveling with pets, culled from experience and experts:

PREPARATION

_Introduce your pets to each other before you leave if you're taking more than one. They might not get along.

_If a dog isn't used to being in the car, go on some test runs beforehand. Drive around town and see how Spot reacts. I took P.D. on a three-hour trip before I tried the big nine-hour drive.

_Watch for motion sickness during your test drives. A veterinarian can prescribe medication for it.

_Check with your destination for pet policies and deposits.

_AAA's "Traveling with Your Pet" is worth the $17.95 price if you and Spot plan to travel a lot together. Besides covering the basics, it lists pet-friendly lodging and campgrounds, dog parks and veterinary clinics across the U.S.

WHAT-TO-BRING CHECKLIST

_Pet food and water from home. If you use canned food, don't forget the can opener.

_Food and water dishes

_Any medication Spot takes, and your vet's phone numbers.

_A cooler with ice. Spot might really enjoy ice cubes during a summer trip, and some experts say they're easier on a pet's stomach than large amounts of water.

_Something to cover the car seats and motel furniture, as well as a pet hairbrush. You don't want to pay the charge for excessive pet hair in a rental car.

_Leashes and/or harnesses

_AAA recommends bringing pet crates, which can come in handy if you need to leave the pet alone at the motel or if Spot starts climbing around in the car. The book also suggests a harness tethering the dog inside the car.

_Pet toys - be careful to purchase toys made specifically for dogs, so they cannot chew them apart and swallow them.

_Plastic bags and a scoop

_Cables or leads of some kind that can be attached to something on a patio or other outdoor area so everyone can co-exist peacefully outside once in a while.

_We didn't bring rawhide chew bones because we'd both seen formerly friendly dogs fight over them. If you do bring them, remember that they can make dogs extra-thirsty.

_Make sure your dog is wearing some form of identification in case Spot gets loose and runs away. P.D.'s tag, for example, has my cellphone number on it.

_It might sound like overkill, but a recent photograph and description of your pet would be indispensable if Spot sets off on his own. One traveling pet owner I know even makes up fliers before she leaves.

ON THE ROAD

_Stop every two hours or so, for the good of everyone involved. Put out water for Spot and give him time to do what he needs to do.

_Good places include baseball fields and parks. In a pinch, of course, there's always dirt somewhere behind a convenience store if you're in a hurry. But you're doing both of you a favor if you stop somewhere shady and roomy. That way, Spot can exercise a little so he can relax in the car.

_Put Spot's leash on before you stop, unless you like screaming and running in strange places. Otherwise well-behaved pets can freak out on a trip.

_Obey leash laws. Most towns have them. And pick up after Spot, for crying out loud.

_Don't leave the dog in the car without air conditioning, even with the windows partially open. Besides the fact that temperatures can rise to more than 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes in summer, someone could steal Spot.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

_Pay attention to the hotel or motel's pet policy. Many require a deposit, and the damage fees can be steep.

_Try asking your pet-friendly motel manager what places in town will allow Spot to come to dinner with you. Sandy Darnell at Laughing Horse Lodge in Port Aransas circled several pet-friendly places on a local dining list to get us started. Otherwise, call and ask before you go out.

_Check leash laws in town, on beaches and in parks. Some wilderness areas, for example, won't allow dogs at all.

_Bring drinking water to the beach. Saltwater can upset a dog's stomach.