Moving with Pets

Do's...

• Unless your dog or cat is already conditioned to car travel, start taking it on short drives to accustom it to car motion.
• A dog should be taught to sit or lie quietly in one place, and to keep its head inside the car.
• For either a dog or cat, a carrier or portable kennel is one of the most useful items you can have on an overnight trip. It's your pet's "home-away-from-home". You can safely leave the pet in your car, motel or hotel room, or at wayside rest stops.
• Condition your dog or cat to the restraint of a leash.
• Be sure to have along your pet's regular food and dishes, a few treats, favorite toy or two, blanket, comb or brush, flea/tick repellant.

Don'ts...

• Don't feed or water your pet just before starting on your road trip.
• Never let your dog or cat loose in a strange place. Always attach its leash before opening the car door.
• Don't let your pet hang its head out the window.
• Don't leave a pet in the car on a hot day. Heat can become excessive in a parked car even if it's parked in the shade.
• Keep strangers at a distance if your pet seems to be nervous. Don't permit your pet to do things to antagonize people.
• Notify the management if you mus tleave your pet alone in your motel room. If left alone, it may disturb others, chew on furniture or escape when the maid opens the door to clean the room.

REMEMBER:

It's a good idea to have your pet checked by a veterinarian before leaving. Some pets must have entry permits issued by the destination state's regulatory agency. Make sure your pet has all the necessary health and identification tags.