By Janet Storm

The Daily Reflector

Donna Whitfield doesn’t travel alone.

When she packs for vacation, the Plymouth resident prepares a special suitcase for her 4-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Skipper.

“I can’t think of traveling and Skipper not going with me,” Whitfield said. “She is family.”

Skipper’s bag contains such essentials as a treat ball, pig ears, and “night night puppies” — small stuffed animals that spend the night in the terrier’s traveling crate.

“On one trip to my mother’s I forgot the ‘night, night puppies,’” Whitfield said. “Skipper cried or barked all night. I had to go the next day and purchase a stuffed puppy, and put it inside my sweater so it would have my scent on it.

“Skipper slept all night with the new puppy,” she said. “I have never made that mistake again.” 

A growth industry

The popularity of traveling with pets is hardly surprising in light of statistics from the American Pet Products Association.

Last year, Americans spent more than $45 billion on their pets, and 62 percent of all households in the United States include an animal companion. That adds up to more than 77.5 million dogs and 93.6 million cats.

Jason Halliburton, who operates the pet travel Web site bringfido.com with his wife, said that although the overall travel industry took a hit when the United States’ economy faltered, traveling with pets is becoming more common.

“We’ve seen exponential growth in the past four years, said Halliburton, whose site hosted more than a million visitors in 2009. “It’s become increasingly popular for people to bring their pets along when they travel. It’s a great alternative to kenneling or hiring a pet sitter.

“A number of hotels charge no fee for pets, or have a very reasonable fee in the $10 to $15 range,” he said. “Because of that, it can actually be less expensive to travel with a pet that to make other arrangements.”

Eddie Beverly of Greenville said he and his two rat terriers, Pee Wee and Whitey, have received a warm welcome at La Quinta Inns.

“It can be hard to find a pet-friendly hotel, and we’ve found La Quinta to be the best,” he said.

A regular routine

Halliburton said pets typically do very well once they become accustomed to traveling.

“Some can be a little fussy, but once they get settled, they usually adjust,” he said.

Preparing pets for travel can be as simple as maintaining a regular routine, he said.

“Some animals can get a little anxious when they see the pet carrier, so it’s best to keep things as normal as possible in advance of a trip,” Halliburton said.

When bringing an animal on a flight, he recommends that owners refrain from feeding it for four hours before takeoff and taking it out for a bathroom break before heading into the airport.

Owners can, and should, continue to give pets water right up to the time of travel, he said. “It’s important to keep them hydrated.”

Driving vacations are a bit easier, Halliburton said, because owners can stop every few hours to allow their pets bathroom breaks and give them a little exercise.

Whitfield said that when she and Skipper make trips in the car, the terrier curls up in a crate, seat belted into place. To make the journey more pleasant, Whitfield fills the crate with “a treat or two, a stuffed toy and the purple cow toy I had for Skipper the day I picked her up and brought her home.”

 

Stemming misbehavior

Halliburton said owners occasionally express fears about their pets misbehaving once they arrive at the hotel. That’s understandable, since animals will be surrounded by unfamiliar scents and sounds, and may even run into other traveling pets.

“When dogs are anxious they may start barking, and the best you can do is to help them make that room their room,” Halliburton said.

“A special toy or favorite blanket may calm them. And it’s best to spend as much time as you can in the room initially so they can get comfortable.”

Whitfield said that Skipper once struggled to adjust to a rental house during a trip to Sunset Beach.

“The first two nights, Skipper wanted to bark all night — even with me in the room with her,” Whitfield said. “But after the second night, she was no problem.

“Everyone wanted to know if I had given her cough medicine she was so quiet and good. She was just comfortable with the new place.”

When Bill and Mercedes Ervin of Greenville travel with Honey, their 6 1/2-year-old cairn terrier, they always bring along her food, treats, water, toys and bowls.

“When she’s out, she is always on her leash,” Bill Ervin said.

Honey has never been on a plane, but Mercedes Ervin said she the dog was on her best behavior while taking a ferry ride in Virginia.

“She was fascinated with the water and the sea gulls,” Mercedes Ervin said.

Planning ahead

More and more hotels are opening their doors to pet guests, but Halliburton pointed out that the majority still do not. That makes planning ahead important.

“Some hotels have designated areas for pets and they impose a limit on the number of pets they will accept each night,” he said. “It’s always advisable to call ahead. Traveling from hotel to hotel looking for one that accepts pets can just make the day that much longer.”

Pet owners have a range of choice in accommodations, from budget to high-end, Halliburton said.

“Many budget hotels have low or no fees, but policies for high-end hotels vary,” he said. “Some charge between $75 and $100 per stay, while others don’t charge a pet fee at all.”

Popular pet-friendly chains often attract more four-legged guests, which can be hard on temperamental animals, Halliburton said.

“Most high-end hotels will have fewer animals, so that can make the stay more comfortable if your pet has some anxiety issues,” he said.

Some tourist attractions also have pet accommodations.

Mercedes Ervin said one of Honey’s favorite trips is to Busch Gardens.

“She gets to stay in the motel and at the kennels at the park,” Ervin said. “All you have to do is say ‘Busch Gardens’ and she is ready to go.”[1]