Summer holidays are just around the corner and who isn’t excited about that?
But in your holiday planning don’t forget the furry, feathered and fishy members of the house.
Holidaying homeowners have several options for the care of these friends, with the best deal for cats, birds and fish likely to be for them to stay in your own home while you are away.
Such pets will be much more comfortable in a place they know well and homeowners can call neighbors and friends or pet-sitting companies for holiday care.
Always leave clear instructions for carers and contact details in case of an emergency.
Another option is a pet boarding business, although this will likely be more expensive.
If your dog is well-behaved and enjoys being in a car, then you may consider taking them on your road trip. Some cats may also like to travel, but it may be harder to keep them contained at your destination.
If traveling via air or train, make sure you check the carrier rules and regulations for pet travel.
It is also important to ensure the hotels or camp areas that you book do allow these pets on site. Fortunately, the number of holiday destinations now allowing pets is growing fast.
For car travel, it is recommended that dogs and cats are crated to protect both their safety and that of the vehicle occupants.
At the very least, dogs should travel in the back seat with a strong restraint and never be allowed to travel with their head outside a car window or in the back of an open pick-up truck.
Dogs and cats will need plenty of toilet and water stops so keep these in mind when planning the journey timeline.
Both cats and dogs should never leave a vehicle on these stops without a collar, leash and ID tag and they should never be left alone in the vehicle for even short periods of time.
Internal car temperatures have been shown to reach 102 degrees in just 10 minutes on an 85-degree day, even with the car windows left open.