L AT I ME S .

CO M S U N DAY, J U N E 11, 2 017 S11

ROAD TRIPS THINGS TO KNOW

IF THE
PET IS
BEST
LEFT
HOME
By Karen Schwartz

Everything was set for my

vacation when I realized my aging
dog had too many medical issues
to be boarded, sending me on a
frantic search for a pet sitter.
My dog and home survived my
eleventh-hour hire, but I wish I
knew then what I know now.
“I’ve hired pet sitters, and I’ve
hired a nanny. It’s the same pro-
cess for me,” said Dr. Tim Hackett,
an emergency and critical care vet
and director of the James L. Voss
Stephanie Hager HagerPhoto/Getty Images Veterinary Teaching Hospital in
WHETHER you’re bringing poodles, above, or pit bulls, experts recommend a harness or crate. Free-moving pets can distract you. Fort Collins, Colo. “Make sure they
have good training, references and

CANINE CAR CARE

know what to do in a crisis.”
To begin the search, ask for
recommendations from your vet,
dog trainer or local Humane Soci-
ety office or check databases for
the National Assn. of Professional
Pet Sitters (www.lat.ms/propetsit
ters) or Pet Sitters International
BY ROSEMARY MCCLURE >>> My dog, Piper, is a white fluffball, a 20-pound rescue pup who prances around like (www.petsit.com/locate).
You can find other options by
a pint-sized princess and greets me with a play bow and kisses when I come home. ¶ Imagine my surprise when searching online or asking friends
my fair-haired girl locked me out of the car in the middle of the desert one recent night. She had the cellphone, and family. To begin, start with a
telephone interview and ask lots of
my purse and the car keys. I had a disbelieving look on my face. questions.
“Are they familiar with common
We had gotten off Interstate 8 used to it. every three to four hours. Allow Consider the climate where problems that dogs or cats may
at a rest stop outside El Centro, “If you take several small trips enough time for your pet to ex- you’re traveling. Some dogs don’t run into while their owners are
near the Mexican border. I walked and build up, you’ll find out if your plore the unfamiliar territory. If cope well with heat, especially away?” Hackett said.
Piper, put her back in the car and dog’s ready to go on a longer trip. possible, find a dog park or other short-nosed breeds. Others can Determine whether the sitter
was walking to my door when I “If motion sickness if a prob- pet-friendly attraction. get sunburned. will stay overnight or stop by once
heard the electronic locks snap. I lem, there are medications similar Remember your dog is wear- Check ahead to make sure you or twice a day, and discuss specif-
grabbed the door handle and to Dramamine for pets.” ing a fur coat. Don’t ever leave it in can find good accommodations
pulled, but it wouldn’t budge. Other tips: a parked car in the heat for even a that will accept a dog. Also con-
Piper was standing on the car Don’t feed your dog for a few few minutes. Hundreds of dogs die sider whether you’ll have time to
key fob. I had apparently dropped hours before you leave, Ridgeway each year in parked cars despite spend with your dog. If not, it
it when I lifted her into the car. said, and walk your pet before you open windows. Temperatures can might be better to leave it at home.
The story ends happily, thanks depart. climb 20 degrees in the first 10 Remember, most hotels won’t
to a CalTrans worker who lent me Many experts, including minutes. Your dog could suffer allow you to leave a dog in yorr
his phone to call a roadside service Ridgeway, recommend using a heatstroke and die. room while you’re gone. You’ll
with a locksmith. harness for your dog (or crating it) When you pack for your trip, need to take him with you or ar-
But it scares me to think what while traveling in the car. don’t forget to pack for your four- range for a pet sitter, whether
would have happened if it had “A dog is more comfortable if legged pal. Take rabies vaccina- that’s someone you hire or a family
been daytime — and hot — or if it’s restrained because it doesn’t tion records, if you’re crossing member.
someone hadn’t helped me. get slammed into corners every state lines, and other vaccination Camping trips may seem ideal,
The experience offers a lesson time you go around a curve,” he records if you plan to board it but keep in mind that some na-
in what not to do on a road trip said. along the route (while you visit a tional park sites don’t allow dogs;
with your pet. Don’t let your dog sit in the no-dogs attraction for a day, for many don’t allow them on trails.
Thankfully, snafus such as this passenger seat or on your lap. In a instance). Call or check websites using our
aren’t common. collision, the air bag can injure or Carry your vet’s contact infor- national parks list of the West Steven Senne Associated Press
You’re more likely to confront kill your pet, according to the mation. (www.latimes.com/nationalparks A COCKATOO needs care too.
stress and carsickness when you American Veterinary Medical Other doggy necessities: ID ofthewest). Find a sitter who’s qualified.
take your pup on a road trip, said Assn. tags with your mobile number, pet Once you arrive, try to main-
Dr. William Ridgeway, a vet at Other possible problems: food (you may not be able to buy tain a similar schedule to the one ics such as the frequency and
Long Beach Animal Hospital. Small dogs may jump into the the type his digestive system is you have at home, feeding and duration of walks.
“Those winding roads to Big driver’s footwell, interfering with familiar with), a bowl, leash, doggy walking your dog at consistent “I know people who, as they’ve
Bear can be tough on dogs that braking and acceleration; big dogs pickup bags, medications, a favor- times. grown their dog-sitting business,
aren’t used to traveling by car,” he may lean across the driver, block- ite toy and bed or blanket for Most of all, have a good time. they watch two or three [homes] at
said. ing the view of the highway. sleeping. And keep track of your key fob. a time,” said Jennifer Holmes of
His advice: “Take them around Take regular breaks on the Apply flea medications before Fort Collins, a pet sitter and vet
the block in the car. Get them road, stopping for 15 to 30 minutes leaving home. [email protected] technician who is trained in animal
CPR. “I do one at a time, because I
think the quality of care is better;
they can have my full attention.”
Invite the sitter to meet your

KITTIES CAN TRAVEL TOO

pet and study how they interact.
Discuss expectations, such as
whether the sitter will get your
mail, and your house rules, includ-
ing whether the caregiver can
partake of your food or drink.
I learned an important lesson
By Julie Pendray when our return flight was delayed
and the sitter replied to my text by
Last summer my cat, Michelle, saying she had left my house.
and I traveled in my fully packed “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” she said
Prius from Southern California to of my dog.
British Columbia and back, a “Fine” was a relative term.
journey of about 6,000 miles. Besides the accident he had while
Dogs get most of the ink when being cooped up, he was hungry
it comes to car trips, but I can when I finally got home.
attest that cats also can be great It’s imperative to have a friend
company as you head down the as backup. Make sure your sitter
highway. has the number and that both
Michelle’s curiosity and inde- have keys to your house.
pendence made me laugh; she also Include these details in a con-
occasionally kept me warm (or at tract. Samples can be downloaded
least kept my feet warm), whether from the Internet (Google “pet
in a tent, a motel or a lodge. She sitter contract”), but customize it
won hearts and admiration by with clear instructions, adding
being sociable with people she contact information for you, your
trusted. vet and the emergency clinic.
Here are tips to help Kitty Finally, leave a medical direc-
become a first-class travel com- tive with the caregiver that out-
panion. lines how much treatment you
A strong cat-owner bond is want for your dog or cat if it were
key. After she took up residence Arseniy45 Getty Images/iStockphoto injured or ill and how much you
with me, Michelle would run to the CATS can be great travel companions, but first get them accustomed to the car on short trips. would be willing to spend.
door when I left for work, and I I first heard about pet medical
could hear her crying as I drove lodgings and make reservations. state lines and national borders. turn around works best. Don’t directives when I hired Holmes as
away. Clearly, she wanted to be Check with border agencies This should be done no sooner forget a cozy blanket and small toy. a dog sitter after my initial less-
with me, in the house on the road. and airlines well ahead of time to than a week before departure. Stop for breaks so your cat can than-satisfying experience with
Get your kitten used to the learn about international travel Carry copies of all health records. stretch its legs and be reassured, if someone else.
idea. Take your furry friend on regulations. It may take months to Make sure you can get your cat necessary, with some affection and She insisted we draft one before
short trips. This not only intro- prepare, said Dr. Brian Collins of back if it goes astray. Kitty should attention. leaving town, explaining that her
duces the car idea but also may Cornell University’s College of wear a collar and tag with your Feed at the correct times. 12-year-old dog died the day after
predict (or help avoid) car sick- Veterinary Medicine. phone number. Microchip infor- Some cats do suffer motion sick- she flew to the West Indies. She
ness. Visit the vet. Discuss vaccina- mation should be up to date. Carry ness. I fed Michelle after we ar- had the foresight to leave a direc-
Don’t force the issue. If your tions and travel requirements, a current photo for posters. rived at the lodging or an hour or tive with the vet and had told the
pet doesn’t want to go, make other especially if you’re planning foreign If you’re camping, ask park two before we left for the day. couple watching her dog what to
arrangements. If you start assess- travel. Mexico, for instance, re- rangers or camp managers about Use an enclosed litter box. A do.
ing your pet’s willingness to travel quires treatment for ticks before predators and take precautions. file folder box with a lid is an inex- It made it easier on the sitters,
early, any reluctance to go won’t entry and treatment for parasites Secure Kitty in a crate when pensive option. and Holmes said that having her
come as a surprise, said Dr. Liz within six months of entry, Stelow you’re driving. Buckle the con- Take toys. Just because you’re wishes carried out helped her find
Stelow of the UC Davis School of said. tainer into the middle of the back traveling doesn’t mean Kitty closure.
Veterinary Medicine. Discuss anti-nausea medica- seat so your cat sees you (and doesn’t need to be amused or I now have a network of experi-
Keep the number of human tions as well as calmatives. Pre- some scenery) but is away from entertained. enced pet sitters whom I trust, and
passengers in check. Traveling in a scription products may be more the loudest engine noise. Or you Besides breaks while driving, we all have the same expectations.
car with a lot of people or young effective than some over-the- can pack around the crate to hold consider breaks in your journey to That makes going on vacation and
children increases the risk your cat counter drugs, Stelow said. it in place, but make sure the vents give yourself and your cat days off. coming home that much more
will escape, Stelow said. Get documentation. Ask the are clear. It’s good for both of you. relaxing.
Make sure your plans are vet for a current health certificate, A hard-shell case that offers
locked in. Scope out pet-friendly which usually is required to cross room for your pet to sit up and [email protected] [email protected]