Pet Travel Expert Q &amp - PawNation

By Kelly E. Carter Apr 25, 2013

• Getty Images: Sally Anscombe

  1 of 9

  Is there anything more heartbreaking than the sound of your pooch whimpering when you leave it behind? Or your kitty's sad yowls while you pack your suitcase for vacation? If only you could bring your pet with you everywhere you go. With a little bit of guidance, you'll be globe-trotting with your furry friend in no time. Find out how.

• I recently saw a man walking around New York City with a cat sitting on his head. Can I teach my cat to do this, but on my shoulder? She is still young, and I'd love to bring her out and about with me, but she doesn't walk on a leash well.

• A: In recent years, it has become trendy to walk around with a cat on one?s shoulder. I don?t get it, especially in a big city. New York is so crowded and congested. People bump into you. You have to dodge taxis, cyclists and the mentally unstable. Why risk your cat?s safety by having her perched on your shoulder in all that madness? I can understand you wanting your four-legged friend out and about with you. Since she doesn?t walk too well on leashes, how about getting a sling carrier for her? If I were a cat, I?d rather see the world from your shoulder rather than your waist. But I?m thinking of the cat?s safety and security. After searching for the perfect sling carrier with a stylish exterior and super comfy interior, I recently bought two that I love. Check out the brands I See Spot, which has an online store and is also sold in brick-and-mortar stores, and Susan Lanci Designs, which is only sold in stores. Both are made in the USA and have safety harnesses to secure your precious pet, but the Susan Lanci Fringe Cuddle Carrier I bought has two safety harnesses of different lengths ? a nice option to have.

• I'm driving from San Diego to San Francisco with my dog. How often should we stop to let him relieve himself??

• Getty Images: Steven Puetzer

  5 of 9

  A: I think you should make the trip all about him and stop at all of the cool, dog-friendly cities between San Diego and San Francisco. Take photos and make a scrapbook of his adventure. I?m currently writing the "Dog Lover?s Guide to Travel," featuring the 75 best places in the U.S. and Canada to vacation with a dog, for National Geographic Books. The book doesn?t come out until May 2014, but here?s a sneak peek. Stop in Del Mar, Huntington Beach and Long Beach, where dogs can romp freely on their own beaches. In Huntington Beach, have lunch at Shorebreak Hotel, which has a dog dining menu. In Long Beach, take him by Pussy and Pooch, an urban oasis for pets and their people featuring a Pawbar, where felines and canines can dine on healthy fare. Make your next stop Santa Monica and stroll down the pier with your pooch. Next, take paws in dog-friendly Pismo Beach before continuing on to Carmel-by-the-Sea, which I call pet paradise. A must is Yappy Hour at Doris Day?s Cypress Inn, held Monday through Friday with dogs of all sizes allowed inside the lounge. It?s a hoot! The next morning, your pooch can join you inside or outside for breakfast at the hotel. Now you?re just 120 miles away from pet-friendly San Francisco.

• I'm moving across the country and I have a pet bird. Am I allowed to bring him on with me in the cabin of a plane??

• Getty Images: Hannele Lahti

  7 of 9

  A: Yes, you certainly can bring your feathered friend with you on several airlines, provided certain conditions are met. United, Delta Air Lines?and US Airways all allow passengers to carry households birds in an approved container for $125 one way, while Alaska Airlines charges $100. The container must fit under the seat and each airline has its own rules on size. Therefore, be sure to check each carrier?s website. Delta requires in-cabin pets to be at least 10 weeks old and small enough to fit comfortably in a kennel under the seat directly in front of you. Because maximum carry-on kennel dimensions are determined by your flight, you must contact the airlines to determine the appropriate kennel size. Make sure you book early, since all airlines have capacity limits for in-cabin pets: generally four or five in economy and fewer in first class and business. If you plan to fly in a premium cabin, make sure you check to see if the aircraft permits in-cabin pets outside of coach class, since some airlines now ban in-cabin pets in first and business class?because of the lie-flat seats ? a bummer.

• I'm leaving for my spring break and I am worried about leaving my rabbit behind. Are there any places that board all pets, not just dogs and cats?

• Getty Images: Image Source

  9 of 9

  Next: More Pet Travel Questions

  A: Have you thought about taking your furry friend with you? As founder of TheJetSetPets.com, I encourage pet travel. Both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines allow passengers to bring rabbits on board as in-cabin pets for $100 and $125, respectively. Book a room at a Kimpton Hotel, the?best pet-friendly brand, because every location accepts all animals, regardless of size, weight, type, breed or number, and there is never a fee. If taking your bunny with you isn?t an option and you?re in the Southern California area, try The Barkley Pet Hotel and Day Spa, which not only provides luxurious overnight lodging for reasonable rates for dogs and cats, but also bunnies, birds and exotics. There?s also an outpost in Cleveland, but unfortunately it only accepts cats and dogs. Another lodging option in the Los Angeles area is Rabbit Rescue in Paramount. At Rabbit Rescue, boarded bunnies munch on fresh Oxbow hay, pellets and fresh salad daily, and stay in a roomy, custom-built pen 5-and-a-half-feet long by 1 yard across with lots of good air flow. If those don?t work, then I suggest asking your vet for a recommendation and inquiring at your local rabbit shelter.

Source: http://www.pawnation.com/2013/04/25/pet-travel-expert-qanda/

Karen Klein Colorado fires supreme court summer solstice Summer Solstice 2012 Waldo Canyon fire nba finals