More than 23 million American households — nearly 1 in 5 nationwide — adopted a pet during the pandemic. And now many of those Americans will try to take their first vacation with a cat, dog or bird.
Are you ready?
Traveling with pets is one of the most controversial topics I’ve ever covered. From fake emotional support animals to annoying owners, fur always flies when I write about animals and travel.
But it’s a fair question: What happens when you try to take all those pandemic pets on vacation with you? Should you even be worried? And if you do, what should you know?
“Traveling with pets has become more difficult since the pandemic,” said Josh Sneed, CEO of Rainwalk Pet Insurance.
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There is a long list of challenges when traveling with pets, including new fees and stricter rules for traveling with animals. Summer is especially difficult because airlines have restrictions on transporting animals during hot weather. Perhaps the biggest obstacle is the explosion of fake rabies documents from pet importers, making it difficult to transport animals across borders, Snead says.
“Often,” he adds, “red tape makes it so expensive that it’s no longer worth it.”
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What happens when all those pets travel this summer?
Traveling with pets isn’t always the best idea. If you’re moving across the country and need to take the Rover with you, fine. If you have a documented disability and have a trained and well-behaved service animal, OK. But I’ve never seen a dog or cat “ask” to go on vacation. In fact, if they knew they were going to be squeezed into a carrier bag for hours or locked in a hotel room, they’d probably prefer not to go on vacation with you.
But if even a small percentage of the pet-owning population is traveling with an animal this summer, things could get interesting. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, almost 39% of American households own dogs; another 25% own cats – or perhaps it’s more accurate to say they’re owned by cats. And these are numbers from before the pandemic. Imagine what happens when they hit the road.
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Here’s what they’ll face:
More pet fees. About half of U.S. hotels allow pets, according to CanMyPetStay.com, a site that tracks pet policies. Of these, 95% charge a pet fee, which averages $43 per night or $94 per stay. Randy Greencorn, who publishes the site, advises pet owners to call the hotel ahead of time to confirm that pets are allowed. “And ask the hotel to add your pet to the reservation to avoid check-in complications,” he adds.
New rules. Janice Costa, owner of Canine Camp Getaway, says she’s seen all kinds of new pet rules recently. These range from higher cleaning fees to charging for a pet instead of a room. Also new at some hotels are dog size restrictions. “Other hotel chains already have policies limiting guests to one dog per room,” she says. “And more and more hotels seem to be putting in place a policy that dogs cannot be left in the room unattended, even in a crate. This can be problematic if you want to go out to dinner or do something non-dog related while traveling.”
Inexperienced owners. Many Americans will be traveling with their pet for the first time. A new survey by Harvest Hosts, an RV membership program, found that only half of travelers (52%) base their travel plans on accommodating their pets. This means that some pet owners will leave their dogs and cats in their hotel room or caravan while they enjoy their holiday, which is not a holiday for the animal. You can’t do anything for inexperienced owners. But you can plan ahead if you bring your pet.
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New programs for pets. Hotels know this summer will be big for pet travel. For example, Kimpton Hotels recently introduced a new program called KimptonxWag. It’s a partnership with mobile platform Wag!, which pairs pet owners with professional caregivers for boarding, sitting and walking. If you’re staying at a Kimpton property, you can easily find someone to take your best friend out for a walk or keep them company while you’re out to dinner. “Once you’ve decided that your dog is coming with you, you need to make sure you carefully consider the hotel you’re staying at,” says Nick Gregory, Kimpton’s senior vice president of hotel operations.
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That’s a lot to consider before traveling with a pet this summer. Yet many pet owners think of their own vacation needs before their pets. They travel to places where pets are not welcome or will not be comfortable.
Sasha Armstrong, creator of the Canine State of Mind educational program, says that a successful trip with your pet requires more planning than a simple vacation.
“It’s a great idea to choose a place in nature if at all possible, or try to choose a place to stay that meets your dogs’ needs as well as your own,” she says.
And if you can’t? Ask a friend at home to look after your furry companion while you’re gone and save your pet – and you – unnecessary stress.
Your summer travel checklist with pets
Food and emergency contacts. “Plan ahead to ensure that items that the pet would normally need at home are taken with them on the trip,” advises Darcia Kostiuk, Senior Veterinarian for Orijen Pet Food. This doesn’t just include the usual items, such as food, dishes, leashes and collars, carriers, litter boxes and bags, treats, toys, medicine and blankets. Kostiuk also recommends keeping the phone numbers of trusted veterinarians and local emergency vet clinics handy.
Documentation. “It’s important to bring all the paperwork,” says Jean Shafiroff, a spokeswoman for American Humane. This includes all necessary vaccinations and health certificates. Shafiroff, who owns five rescue dogs, notes that airlines are particularly tight-lipped when it comes to paperwork. “Foreign dogs have a particularly hard time getting into the U.S.,” she adds.
Insurance for traveling with pets. A new report from travel insurance company Battleface found that 44% of Americans want the ability to customize travel insurance policies to meet their specific needs, including a pet travel package. Some travel insurance plans offer coverage for pet-related expenses. For example, if your return trip is delayed by at least six hours and you can’t pick up your dog or cat on the scheduled day, Seven Corners RoundTrip Choice will cover up to $500 in fees or kennel expenses. You may also consider a “cancellation for any reason” policy. “Maybe your pet is older or you’re worried about them getting sick while you’re gone,” says Angela Borden, product specialist at Seven Corners.