Pets become members of our families, so it’s natural to want to take them with us when we travel. In order to make traveling with your pet safe and enjoyable for you and the animal alike, you need to do some research ahead of time. It’s vital to know laws, guidelines, and safety rules for traveling with a pet and you’ll have to tailor your itinerary to include your pet at every step of the way. If you’re considering taking a pet along on a vacation or are moving and need to transport your pets to your new residence, you’ll find lots of helpful information here.
If you’ll be staying at any hotels along the way, you’ve got to make sure that each one accepts pets along with its human guests. Use the following directories to find all the pet-friendly hotels, motels, and inns all over the world. Most come complete with reviews, ratings, and information about rates and amenities.
Official Pet Hotels – Check this searchable database to find pet-friendly hotels around the world. Just enter your destination city or nearest airport to find accommodations for you and your pet.
Pet Hotels of America – On this site, you can find pet-friendly hotels across the USA. You can also search for pet friendly attractions and events.
Pet Friendly Hotels – Use this directory from Choice Hotels to find pet-friendly travel accommodations wherever you’re heading. You can also use the site to find dog parks or see which U.S. cities are rated as the most dog-friendly.
Pet Friendly Hotel Directory – If you still haven’t found the perfect pet-friendly hotel, check here. Set your own search parameters or just scroll through the listings to find the perfect place to stay.
There are a lot of special considerations to be taken when traveling with pets. Many of them depend on the time of year, the type and age of pet you have, and how you’ll be traveling. Use the following links to find the best, most current guidelines and advice for keeping pets safe and happy no matter where you’re going or how you plan to get there.
MSPCA Pet Travel Tips – This page comes from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and is filled with vital information for pet owners planning to travel. There are safety tips and helpful hints to help make sure your pet enjoys the trip as much as you do.
Cesar’s Best Dog Travel Tips – Dog training guru Cesar Milan offers up his favorite tips for traveling by car with your dog.
Tips for Traveling with Pets – From the Humane Society of the United States comes this guide to traveling with pets. Whether you plan to go by plane, train, car, or ship you’ll find the right advice here.
Traveling With Pets FAQs – Look through these frequently asked questions from the American Veterinary Medicine Association to help you prepare for travel with your animal. There’s great information about everything from what you should bring along on a road trip to which pets can go camping with you.
Keeping your pet safe and healthy should be a top priority, especially when traveling. Use the rules and advice in these pages so you can take the right precautions to ensure the safety of your pet. You can also find out what the laws are when it comes to driving and flying with pets, and learn some seasonal travel safety tips as well.
DOT Animal Travel Regulations – Check this page from the U.S. Department of Transportation to see all of the official guidelines for shipping pets via airline.
Summer Safety Tips from the AKC – This is the American Kennel Club’s list of tips for traveling with pets during summer. Hot weather presents a special set of health and safety concerns for animals, and it’s vitally important to review these guidelines before you set out.
Winter Pet Care Tips – There is a whole different – and equally important – set of safety concerns for pets during winter. The Weather Channel has put together a great article full of tips for keeping pets healthy and safe during cold weather.
USDA Pet Page – Check the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s pet page to find links about state laws regarding pet transport. You can also find out about import/export laws if you are planning on bringing an animal in from a foreign country.
The pages in this section are beyond helpful when it comes to planning a trip with your pet. You won’t have to wade through the sea of sites without much real information to find what you’re looking for. Just click on the links below to find no-nonsense to-do lists and vital directories that you’ll want to have on hand.
Travel Check List and Packing List – Go through this checklist before you travel with your pet. It’s a pretty comprehensive list, and there are probably a few things on it that you haven’t thought of.
Veterinary Services Area Offices Directory – The USDA Veterinary Services department works to ensure quality veterinary care throughout the country. Use the point-and-click map to find VS area offices in your state.
Emergency Vet Map – It’s important to think ahead and prepare for medical emergencies when you travel. The same goes for your pet. Use this directory of emergency animal clinics and veterinarians around the United States to make sure you know where to take your pet if they get sick or injured on your trip.
Worldwide Directory of Pet Resources – Check this interactive map to find pet supply stores around the world, because you never know when you’ll need to replace a leash or pick up some more food.
In this section, you’ll find some unique and useful resources to help you plan a trip – or a move – around your pet. From a worldwide dog-sitting network to pet transportation services that will deliver your family pet to your door from just about any location in the world, these sites and services are handy and helpful.
Dog Vacay – Dog Vacay is a network of dog owners who offer dog-sitting services at their homes. It allows you to find a great dog-sitter near you, and you can also sign up to host a dog yourself.
Pacific Pet Transport – PPT is a California-based pet relocation company that can help to safely and comfortably move your pet anywhere in the world. You may want to consider this option if you are concerned about transporting your animals yourself.
Pet Relocation – Pet Relocation is another reputable company that specializes in the safe transport of pets. Even if you aren’t interested in their services, there is a lot of valuable information about traveling with pets on the site.
Pet Friendly Vacations and Destinations – This resource page has links to pet friendly accommodations and destinations around the United States so you can plan your vacation accordingly.