Tips for traveling with your furry friends

DELMARVA – Planning to travel with your pets can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never taken your furry friends along on a trip.

Sara Smith, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications with the Brandywine Valley SPCA, says there are several things you should take into consideration when planning a vacation with your pets. Just like you would for yourself, you should make sure that you pack all your pet’s necessities, including any medications they need, food, and additional things such as litter for cats. Other items such as your pet’s favorite bed and toys should also be on your list.

Something people might not always think about when preparing to travel with their pet, is making sure their contact information is up to date. Smith recommends ensuring that your pet’s microchip is up to date, put an ID tag on their collar, and even carry a second ID tag with you, just in case.

“It’s inevitable that a pet could get loose while they’re away on vacation or while they’re visiting relatives and friends, people that aren’t used to having pets in their homes. You want to make sure that if your pet happens to get away from you that you can be contacted immediately,” said Smith.

Another useful tool, according to Smith, is the nationwide database Petco Love Lost. It’s a free tool that helps reunite lost pets with their loved ones; all you have to do is upload a current photo of your pet to the website.

If you’re traveling by car, Smith says it’s imperative to make sure you have some kind of restraint for your pet, whether it’s a crate, special car seat, or carrier. She says that in case of an emergency, it’s best that your furry friends are restrained just like people and not free roaming. Additionally, you should make sure your pet is always on a leash, in a harness, or being carried in such a manner that they can’t escape.