People who travel with service animals—for example, guide dogs for the visually impaired, or assistance dogs for those who are mobility impaired—do not have the choice of leaving their pet at home. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act guarant
Travel with a pet can be as short as a car ride into town for a veterinary appointment or as lengthy as a permanent relocation to another country. Regardless of the type of travel, adequate planning and preparation will help avoid surprises and make the trip less stressful for both you and your pet.
Before taking a long trip by car, it is helpful if you can take your pet for short rides in its carrier so that it becomes accustomed to being confined. Some pets have only been in their carriers during trips to the veterinarian, so they associate the carrier and car ride wi
If you will be staying in motels, hotels, or campgrounds along the way, check ahead of time to ensure that the establishment will accept pet visitors and what (if any) extra fees or restrictions there might be. Sources of information include the hotel’s phone or
A multitude of diseases and parasites might be encountered in a foreign environment. The disease-causing organisms that animals may harbor have the potential to produce serious consequences. For example, in 2003 an outbreak of monkeypox in people in the United States was traced to Gambian giant rats, which carried the virus from Afri
Vaccination requirements vary from country to country. All dogs and cats should be vaccinated against rabies before they leave the United States. Rabies may be a nonexistent threat in some areas of the world, for example, in the United Kingdom, but may become an
The regulations for travel with animals are extensive and may seem burdensome (Government Agencies and Other Organizations with Information on Pet Travel
In the US, Amtrak now allows some pets (cats and dogs up to 20 pounds) to travel on some routes. Additional restrictions may apply, and you should contact Amtrak for details. In Europe
Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 provides regular voyages between the Unites States and England. However, the number of spaces alloted for pets is limited and they remain in a kennel during the voyage, not in the owner's cabin. For those individuals traveling by ocean line