DEAR JOAN: My wife and I are planning a vacation that will take us to a few different cities and states, and we want to bring our 1-year-old dog with us. He’s a small dog, but he’s definitely a mutt.
Right now, we’re trying to decide whether to fly to our first location and then rent a car to visit the other places, or whether we should drive the entire trip. Our first stop would take two days to reach, but the other places are more reasonable to drive to.
We’d like to know your thoughts on flying vs. driving, and what we need to do to make sure everyone has the best experience. We’ve never traveled with a pet before. Will having him declared an emotional support dog make it easier for us with the airlines and hotels?
— G. and R., Oakland
DEAR G. AND R.: You have a lot of things to figure out before packing your suitcases.
If you decide on flying, chances are you’d be able to take your pup with you on the plane, and not have to put him in the cargo area. However, the dog will have to be in an airline-approved carrier, and the carrier must fit beneath the seat in front of you.
You’ll probably have to pay a little extra on your fare. Those range from $100 to $150 per animal, per flight.
Contact the airline well in advance of making your reservations to make sure they can accommodate you, what the fees will be and any other requirements. Most airlines require proof of rabies vaccination and a certificate or letter from your vet attesting to your dog’s good health.
Traveling by car also requires some advance planning, the first of which is to see if your pup can tolerate car travel. My dog absolutely hates it. I’d advise a dry run, perhaps with a day trip to see how he does.
As you’ll be staying in hotels, you should make sure they accept pets. Many do, but they often charge you a daily fee that can be pricey.
Overall, you’ll need to consider that you won’t be able to take him with you every step of the journey. Dogs are not welcome everywhere, so you’ll need to decide what to do with him while you’re visiting sites or going to dinner. You should start crate training now, so that you have a safe place to keep him for a couple of hours at a time.
Emotional support animals enjoy no more rights than regular animals to be in places where dogs aren’t allowed. Only service animals have that right. Vests and so-called emotional support certificates are meaningless, so don’t waste your money on them.
Lastly, be sure to pack food, water, dishes, toys, medications and a crate.
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Save Mount Diablo update
The drive to raise the final $100,000 of the $1.5 million necessary to purchase the Ginochio Schwendel Ranch on Mount Diablo is nearing its March 6 deadline, and so far, 45 readers have contributed $7,500. Donations can be sent to Save Mount Diablo, 201 N. Civic Drive, Suite 190, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 or via https://savemountdiablo.org/time-critical-land-acquisitions.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
