Many people have pets, ranging from cats and dogs to domestic rats and wild animals like raccoons and snakes. As a rule, most of them require constant care, and it is worthwhile to think twice before leaving them alone even for a short period.
Traveling is rewarding, but can be hard as well. Whether you’re in a relationship and don’t like to be apart, or you’re used to having your pet around you, there are ways to make it work. You can easily save a long distance relationship! with a few tips to focus on, and you don’t need to be long distance with your pet. If you’re thinking about traveling with pets, it is worth learning about how to travel with your pet because there are some rules of animal transportation. Whether you’re backpacking or traveling in luxury, you will want your furry friend with you and below will tell you how you can do that!
Urban transport.
If you are a lucky owner of a dog, a cat, or you have a feathered friend, then you will need a special container, bag or cage, traveling with pets. This applies to animals, the size of which does not exceed the size of the hand baggage. You do not need to pay for it. A muzzle and a short leash are mandatory for the dog.
Subway.
On the subway, the animal transportation is allowed only in containers. Of course, you can be let in without a container, but if your pet is big and it is problematic to carry it in your arms, then you may not be let in. In the case when you are let in, you should not use an escalator, the pet can get stuck in the mechanism. Use the ladder or carry it in your arms.
Train.
In long-distance trains, there are much more rules: it is possible to transport medium-sized animals in cages or containers in all types of cars with payment of travel. Large dogs are allowed to be placed in a compartment, but all seats will have to be paid off, and you cannot take more than two dogs.
For long-distance routes, a health certificate from a vet is required. It should be taken no more than three days before departure. Also, you should have a certificate about vaccinations, done no later than 30 days and not earlier than 12 months before the date of travel. If you plan a trip outside the country, then be sure to find out if your animal can be transported when traveling to the country, and what requirements you should meet.
Personal transport.
If you’re thinking about traveling with pets in Europe in a private car, you will need to have the Animal Passport with information about all vaccinations and treatments from parasites, a certificate of chipping, a certificate of the departure. In European countries, a separation grid between the cabin and the dog or the cage is mandatory. It’s forbidden to take it into the cabin, and if you take it in the back seat, then the dog should be fastened.
Plane.
If you’re planning to travel a bit further to one of the hottest destinations this year, keep in mind that each airline has its own requirements. It is worthwhile to get to know them in detail by contacting the representative of the chosen carrier. It might be forbidden to transport the animals. And if it is allowed, it’s not a fact that your pet will be placed with you, it could be a luggage compartment. In case of international flights, the international Animal Passport with all vaccinations and treatment marks will be demanded. In general, the more data it contains, the better it is. In the EU, animals must have a microchip, so its presence is more than desirable.
Usually, you can take your pet with you if its weight does not exceed 5-8 kg (depends on the rules of the carrier). The container in which you will take the pet must meet the following requirements: the sum of the length, width and height should not exceed 115 cm, the animal should freely turn around in it, the bottom of the container should not allow smells and moisture, and its coating should absorb everything. Additional rules may vary from a company to a company, but if you are going to travel with pets, you should better do the following: to insure the animal, to book a place in the luggage compartment in advance, to find out the requirements for the aircraft boxes, to find out where this breed of animals can be transported, and what maximum weight is allowed.