OnlineAthens: Features: Every pet deserves a vacation = 05/16/03


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Story last updated at 7:09 p.m. on Thursday, = May 15,=20 2003
3D""=20

= Every pet = deserves a=20 vacation
The Dog Days of Summer

By Nicole L. Shillings
Correspondent

3D"Photo:
Oliver reads = through some of=20 his favorite travel books before departing on = his=20 trip.
R.C. = Rique/Staff
= ; Warm=20 weather and the end of school signify the time for families = to get=20 away from the monotony of everyday life. So, why not include = Rover=20 in this summer's vacation plans? Experts caution traveling = with pets=20 requires doing a little research and planning ahead.

Road trip
   Fluffy might be = used to=20 traveling in the car around town, but taking a long road = trip=20 requires extra consideration. Besides putting an animal in a = crate,=20 owners can purchase ''seat belts for long car trips,'' = suggested=20 Amanda Rodriguez, owner of Petropolis, an Athens doggy day = care,=20 hotel and spa at 112 Athens West=20 Parkway.
   Rodriguez stresses being = considerate=20 of an animal's needs, especially when one is cooped up in a = car.=20 ''Dogs need frequent stops to go to the bathroom and to get = some=20 water. There are some really cool travel packs for pets now = too,=20 ones with separate compartments for water and food that are = great=20 for the car,'' she said.
   ''Owners also = need to=20 be careful about leaving dogs in their cars,'' warned = Rodriguez. The=20 sun quickly can heat cars, leading to severe dehydration and = even=20 death within minutes for animals. Also, animals are prime = victims=20 for theft when left unattended in a vehicle.

Flying
   Airlines require = passengers=20 traveling with pets to give advance notice. Some airlines = set a=20 limit on the amount of animals they accommodate on each = flight and=20 many charge pet fees between $50 and $150 each way. Most = airline Web=20 sites list rules and regulations for pet travel. This = information=20 also is available through most airlines' phone reservation=20 lines.
   Animals more than a certain = weight=20 (check with your airline) must be checked as baggage, and in = the=20 warm summer months, most airlines will not allow animals to = be=20 checked below due to health = risks.
   However,=20 most small animals can be considered carry-on luggage and = can ride=20 with their owners year-round. Also, for any animal to travel = in the=20 United States and most foreign countries, a health = certificate from=20 a veterinarian is required at=20 check-in.
   Rodriguez suggested owners = invest in=20 ''a good crate, one that is airline-approved, sturdy and has = good=20 ventilation."


3D"Photo:
Oliver awaits the = departure of his=20 trip.
R.C. Rique/Staff
Rodriguez also = said travelers=20 shouldn't give their pets sedatives. "If something happens, = they=20 can't protect themselves, like if the crate falls over, they = won't=20 be able to sit themselves up," Rodriguez added.

Accommodations
Besides = camping in the=20 great outdoors, many hotels, motels and bed and breakfast=20 establishments are happy to put up Fido for the night. Large = travel=20 Web sites, such as Orbitz and Travelocity, offer a = pet-friendly=20 option when searching for hotels. However, it is best to = call before=20 making reservations. Similar to airlines, most hotels will = charge a=20 pet fee and have only so many rooms allotted for guests with = pets.

Travel tips
In addition to = current=20 identification tags, ''make sure to get a travel ID with the = number=20 you can be reached at while you're on vacation. That way if = your pet=20 gets lost where you are visiting, you can be quickly = reached,''=20 Rodriguez said.
Packing for Lassie = calls for=20 special attention. Taking his or her favorite toys and = blankets will=20 help put an animal at ease in an unfamiliar place. Rodriguez = tells=20 pet owners to ''take enough of their own food, because = sometimes=20 food can be regional. And you don't want to change their = diet=20 halfway through on vacation, possibly making them sick.''

Resources
   Many Web sites and = travel=20 books are devoted to traveling with pets. Petswelcome.com = contains=20 information about hotels in every region of the world and = has=20 information about animal-friendly activities, beaches, parks = and=20 veterinarians.
   Dogfriendly.com offers=20 comprehensive city guides including dog-friendly events, = attractions=20 and restaurants for the U.S. and = Canada.
   Book=20 stores offer many travel guides for pet lovers. ''Pets on = the Go:=20 The Definitive Pet Accommodation and Vacation Guide,'' by = Dawn and=20 Robert Habgood, offers many ideas for various budgets and = interests.=20 It is updated annually. Also, AAA Auto Club releases an = annual=20 travel guide for pet owners, ''Traveling with Your Pet - The = AAA=20 PetBook,'' available through = Amazon.com.
   =20

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Friday, May 16, = 2003.=20

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