Travel & Safety for Pets

PET PROBLEMS & TRAINING SOLUTIONS

Pack well before taking any trip with an animal
By Deborah Wolfe, Author of “Good Dog!” has a column once a month in the pet section of the Maple Ridge Times

One hot summer in the 1970s at a cottage on Lake Simcoe, I was allowed for the first time to go fishing “by myself.” This
meant that I could go to the dock next door under the watchful eye of the family Standard Poodle, Baron. We were about the same height back then, a perfect match.
Off we marched at the crack of dawn, kid’s time. I plopped my line and bobber in the water and just minutes later I reeled in a pretty Sunfish with tiger stripes down its triangle body. I proudly showed the fish to Baron and he helped me take it off the hook. In a flash of silver grey, Baron lunged at the fish.
The fish landed on the dock with a thud, and the hook landed in Baron’s mouth with a yip. I went fishing and instead of catching kippers for breakfast, I caught the family dog.
I ran home and woke my brothers. They woke my sister and she woke my parents, and pretty soon the whole family was on the front porch. I stood there with the fish in my pocket, the rod in both my hands, and the dog calmly waiting with the hook in his mouth and the line trailing back to my rod. Despite the early morning surprise, my parents burst out laughing. One look and they knew the whole story.
This family vacation pet accident had a happy ending, but it still cost our family a day of vacation, the vet’s bill, and my little girl’s heart some pretty heavy guilt. And we were lucky. Family vacations can end in disaster if pets and kids aren’t properly supervised. A minilesson about dogs and hooks and fish would have prevented the accident.

Here are some safety and packing tips to keep you and your pet travel safe.
BEFORE THE TRIP:
. Make sure pets have clear ID tags with their home address and a second tag with the vacation address or cell phone numbers to reach you during your travels. Luggage tags or key chains work great for this.
. Get your pet used to his travelling spaceahead of time with meals and short trips in the kennel or carrier. (The carrier must allow your pet to sit, lie down, stand up and turn around, but it should still be cozy for a sense of security). Dogs will love to show you they can “kennel up” on command for treats and toys.
. Teach dogs never to bolt out of the door. Always use a leash.
. Teach kids that the cat cannot be released or petted until the day’s travel is done and you have safely arrived at your sleeping place, doors shut, all safe.
. Be mindful of maids and possible escapes when staying at hotel rooms.
. Get your pets used to eating once a day in the evening so they won’t have to travel on a full stomach.
PET TRAVEL KIT:
. Clean water and a collapsible bowl (available at pet stores, camping stores and Old Navy).
. Regular food, treats, and shampoo, can opener.
. Three non-food pet toys.
. Towels, shade cover, sunscreen, non-DEET bug repellent (stuff for babies is best), flea sprays, grooming brush for tick protection each night.
. A familiar blanket for the pet’s sleeping space.
. Scooper bags and litter necessities.
. Photo, vet records of your pet if you are crossing borders.
. A pet life jacket with a strong handle on the neck for scooping an unconscious dog out of the water.
WHAT NOT TO PACK:
. Chocolate, as dogs can get into it and get very sick.
. Games with small swallowable pieces, and crayons.
. Stuffed animals, as they can lead to possession wars.
. Electronic games unless they have a sound off button.
FIRST AID KIT:
Take a regular family first aid kit and add the following pet-specific supplies:
. Sharp scissors (cutting fur);
. Muzzle (stops a pet in pain from you or himself);
. Strong Blanket (acts as a stretcher);
. Stiff magazine (acts as a splint);
. Benadryl (controls reaction to bee stings);
. Pepto Bismol (calms an upset tummy en route to the vet;
. Hydrogen peroxide (both cleans wounds and can be used to induce vomitting with certain poisons – check with Poison Control; if the poison is unknown, do not induce vomitting, and get to a vet).
Have a happy and safe pet-filled summer from Deborah Wolfe and your furry friends at Camp Good Dog.More Training
tricks and Safety tips at www.campgooddog.com.