The Costco Connection - January 2014

travel connection

that are susceptible to respiratory issues— that should never fly (and some airlines refuse to transport them).

3. Prepare for the cargo hold. If your dog must fly in the cargo hold, then it must fly in an approved container that is well ventilated and made of sturdy plastic with a secure locking system. It must be large enough for your dog to be able to stand, turn around and lie down. Tape any wheels that may be attached to the kennel so it can’t roll freely. Make sure the kennel has “;;;; ;;;;;;” stickers on the top and sides at least 1 inch tall. Mark the kennel with the animal’s name and your name, address, phone number and destination. Then verify that the kennel’s baggage-claim tag shows the correct destination and is securely attached.

4. Avoid the temptation to sedate your pet. It’s stressful enough for the animal to adjust to a different environment compounded by sudden movements and altitude, lighting and pressure extremes. Sedating the dog only makes matters worse and can even injure your pet. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, over-sedation is the most frequent cause of animal death during airline transport (it accounts for almost half of all deaths).

5. Hydrate your dog during the flight.

Many kennels come equipped with a built-in cup for water. It’s essentially useless—move the kennel and the water spills out. And that kennel is going to be moved a couple of times. Instead, bring a bag of ice with you to the airport, and right before loading your dog into the kennel put the ice into the cup. It won’t spill, and as it melts throughout the flight your dog can get much-needed water.

6. Know when to fly. When you change planes in the heat of summer or the cold of winter, pets traveling in the cargo hold can often sit out on the tarmac in extreme heat or cold for hours. As a result, many airlines will not transport pets during summer or winter months. You need to check with individual airlines to determine what the time and temperature moratorium is with each carrier. As a general rule, airlines won’t carry pets when the thermometer drops below 45 F or soars over 85 F.

7. One final question you need to ask. There have been cases in which animals were mistakenly put into unpressurized cargo holds, and pets have died. So once you board your plane, inform a flight attendant that your pet is down below, and ask if he or she can confirm it’s in a pressurized compartment. It’s a necessary question.

And, if your flight is delayed, inform the crew that an animal is on board and ask that the captain be informed. If the delay is lengthy, your animal must be removed from the plane. Insist on this. The bottom line: You are the only person who is going to protect your pets. C

Peter Greenberg is the multiple Emmy Award–winning travel editor for CBS News and host of The Travel Detective on public television. Check www.petergreenberg.com or your local listings.

Flying with Fido and Fluffy

By Peter Greenberg

NATIONAL PET Travel Safety Day is January 2, a good time to take a look at a few important considerations before flying the friendly skies with Fido or Fluffy.

Let’s start with an obvious assumption: Many of us consider pets to be family members. And when we travel, we almost always want to take our loved ones along—and that includes our cats and dogs. A road trip by car is one thing. But what invariably complicates things is when we want to fly with them. And if we’re not careful, we could be putting our canines or felines in serious jeopardy, or worse.

Here are seven things you need to know before Fido or Fluffy flies.

1. Get certified. You need to get a medical OK. Be sure to visit your veterinarian within 10 days of your trip to obtain a current health certificate. It’s required by airlines if you want to travel with a pet.

2. Size matters. So does the breed. If an animal is small—usually less than 20 pounds—it can and should fly in the cabin with you. Most airlines have a limit on how many live animals are allowed per cabin, so make sure you check with them when booking your flight.

Also, if you’re bringing your dog or cat on board, it has to fit under the seat in front of you, and it has to stay in its container. No matter how cute it might be, taking your pet out during the flight can get you a serious fine. And there are certain breeds of cats and dogs Seven things your pets won’t tell you about travel

The Costco Connection

Costco and Costco.com carry pet carriers and crates, as well as pet beds, snacks, food and supplements. Members can fill most pet prescriptions at Costco pharmacies.