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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Traveling or flying with a pet? Here's what you need to know before you go
We Americans love our pets — so much so that in 2024, we spent $150.6 billion on them. About half of us have a dog, and more than a third have a cat. I've had a dog most of my life, but I never considered traveling with one until early 2024 when my husband, Otis, asked whether I wanted to spend the summer in Massachusetts. That was a no-brainer. 'Absolutely!' I replied. I wanted to see where he had spent his summers growing up, meet his best friend, eat 'lobstah' and check New England off my bucket list. Then, reality struck. What would we do with Josie? More from Alessi: Retiring Palm Beach County teacher reflects on cellphones, testing frenzies, tardies and more Josie, a Morkie (Maltese/Yorkshire terrier mix), has lived with me since 2018, when my niece Hillary had her second baby and said, 'Aunt Janet, I can't take care of two kids and a dog. Would you like Josie?' I'd been dogless for six years, so that, too, was a no-brainer. When I drove to Naples to meet Josie, she (Josie, not Hillary) wouldn't stop barking and leaping from one piece of furniture to another. I'm pretty tranquil, so her crazy energy concerned me. Thankfully, I brought her home anyway. After figuring out my doggie door, she burst through it like a bat out of hell to run laps around my fenced-in backyard. She only stopped long enough to dart into my house for water. Then, she bolted out to continue chasing an imaginary mechanical rabbit around what she was claiming to be her personal racetrack. Seven years later, Josie still has that crazy puppy energy, but when she wears herself out, she squeezes between me and the armrest of my couch. When I recline, she sprawls out on top of me and rests her head on my chest while gazing up at me with big, brown eyes that exude love and devotion. If I dare take a break from patting her head or rubbing her tummy, she squirms and whimpers. How could I leave her for two months? Short answer: I couldn't. But, wouldn't traveling with her be complicated? Yes! Yet, after doing so last summer, I can tell you it is so worth it — as long as you're sedated. Here are five lessons I learned: Since Josie would have been stressed without me for the two months we'd be gone, boarding wasn't really an option. Still, I researched it. In Palm Beach County, prices range from $44 to $66 per day, with additional fees for bedtime biscuits, story time, and personal playtime. We would have spent at least $3,000 for Josie's stay! Driving would have been the least expensive way to travel, but a 3,000-mile, 44-hour round trip was out of the question. A previous near head-on collision had given me PTSD. Since driving wasn't an option, we looked into flying. Delta — which charges $95 per pet per flight — was our best choice. But flying with a pet also meant more expenses: a vet fee (for a health certificate and sedatives) and an airline-approved pet carrier (soft-sided, ventilated, leak-proof, and 18 by 11 by 11 inches) — which I purchased from Amazon for $46. I also had to buy a dog bed in Massachusetts. Josie stayed for free at the house we rented, but we took several short trips. One hotel didn't charge for her, one charged $100, and another $125. The hotels had a weight limit (for Josie, not us), barking restrictions (again, for Josie), and legal paperwork with too much small print to read — placing the financial burden on us should one of us leave fleas behind or destroy property. And if anyone complained about barking, we could be asked to leave and would not receive a refund. As we signed on the dotted lines, we begged Josie not to make us regret bringing her. Once we decided on flying, the real fun began. Delta allows 20-pound-or-under pets to fly under the seat in front of their person. Fortunately, Josie had been dieting for a year and weighed 18 pounds. Before purchasing airline tickets, I called Delta to reserve a spot for Josie, as they limit the number of dogs per flight. My greatest fear was that Josie wouldn't let us stuff her into her carrier. So, Otis began Operation-Acclimate-Josie-to-Her-Kennel-by-Putting-Her-Favorite-Treat (Popcorn)-In-It on a daily basis. My second greatest fear was that she wasn't — as stipulated — 'small enough to fit comfortably' in her carrier and didn't have 'the ability to move around without touching or sticking out from the sides.' I wondered whether they cared that at 6-foot-2, I don't fit comfortably in my seat, can't move around, and stick my legs out when I can. In case Josie didn't cooperate, or Delta said she was too smooshed and wouldn't let her fly, we came up with Plan B. After dropping us off at the airport, my stepson would circle around waiting for a thumbs-up text. If need be, he'd take custody of Josie until he could hand her off to my daughter, who — with a baby and two dogs of her own — would be less than thrilled. At the airport, we took Josie to the Special Service Counter, where an agent made sure she and her kennel met Delta's requirements, and I paid the fee. This was also where Josie demonstrated her best problem-solving skills by nudging the zipper open in a thankfully-thwarted attempted escape. With Zipper Security in place, we passed inspection. We were so thrilled and relieved that we forgot to send a thumbs-up text. My stepson is still circling the airport. At home, I walk Josie a few times a week for exercise, but she mostly takes care of her business in my backyard. With no doggie door and fenced-in yard at our place in Massachusetts, I was in charge of her potty breaks. I made a shocking discovery. Josie goes. A lot. Translation: I needed a lot more poop bags than I packed. For future trips with Josie, before booking a hotel, I'll check out its surrounding area. When we stayed in Boston for a few days, we had to walk three blocks to get to a grassy area. Three blocks probably seemed like 3 miles to poor Josie, who'd been holding it for hours in our hotel room. Something else we didn't anticipate? Finding ticks on all three of us after a hike. We responded the only way we could. We researched Lyme disease, freaked out, and bought tick spray. Oh, and removed the ticks. On the first leg of our journey, Otis carried Josie in her carrier. But, for our return flight, Josie and I were on our own. I soon learned that carrying 18 pounds of a squirming fur baby while pulling a suitcase isn't easy, so I now have wheels for her carrier for future trips. At security, I felt like a single mom with a squirming infant — except my 'baby' had four legs and a tail, and the rules seemed to change every five minutes. 'Take her out of the kennel. Don't take her out. Put her on a leash but hold her. Put her down. Don't take her through the scanner with you.' Oy vey. Josie may be a Florida girl, but I'd never taken her to the beach. Her reaction to her first ocean encounter in Brant Rock was priceless: Barked at the waves. Sampled the salt water. Swore off salt water. For life. We often went on long walks along the ocean, and others almost always stopped to talk to us because of Josie. She also befriended our next door neighbors' dog Bentley, even though he was four times her size. Josie never had any idea where we were going in our rental car, but she always wanted to go. If begging didn't work, she tried reverse psychology. To try to trick us into taking her, she'd lie in bed and pretend she didn't care if we left without her. But, when we tried double reverse psychology and feigned that we didn't care that she didn't care, she let us know there would be consequences to pay if we left her behind. This was her vacation, too, darn it! In the evenings, most of our neighbors sat in rockers on their front porch. We were happy to adopt this lifestyle and enjoyed watching Josie go nuts because we wouldn't let her out of our screened-in porch to chase the bunnies hopping around our front yard. My husband's BFF offered to keep Josie when we went on overnighters, but the truth is we would've missed her. We'd learned that we enjoyed traveling with her. Because our kids were grown when Otis and I married in 2020, his kids don't think of me as their stepmom, and mine don't think of him as their stepdad. This trip was the first time he and I felt as if we were co-parents. At the end of our trip, my husband — who had only owned big dogs — said, 'For a small dog, Josie's not bad. She's not yappy, and when I talk to her, she looks me in the eye.' In March, he stayed with her for a week while I visited my son in Georgia. When I returned, Josie made sure I noticed that she was snuggling next to him, not me. A couple of days later, Traitor Josie — as I started calling her — must have forgiven me because, once again, she's a mama's girl. Despite the challenges, traveling with Josie made our trip unforgettable. And she was so good that on both flights, the person whose seat she was under didn't even know she was there. She will definitely be coming with us on our next adventure. After all, she's part of our family. Janet Meckstroth Alessi is a frequent contributor to Accent. She can be reached at jlmalessi@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Traveling with a pet? Here's what you need to know before you go
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
My dog is obsessed with this sanity-saving squeakless dog toy, and I love it too
I love my dog more than most humans, so naturally, I spoil him rotten. But no matter how much I adore Rocco, I can't deal with the nonstop squeaking of plush toys — especially when I'm trying to read or work from home. So I set out to find a solution that would keep him happy and give me some peace and quiet. Enter the GoDog HearDoggy! Flattie Toy. It squeaks, but only at a frequency dogs can hear. It's been an absolute lifesaver. Rocco's happy, I'm happy and, right now, it's just $16 following Amazon Pet Day. Read more: Yahoo editors are going mutts over these Amazon Pet Day deals — save up to 40% According to the description, it has an "ultrasonic, silent squeaker that is out of human hearing range." How is that possible? Its squeakers are tuned to a frequency between 24 and 28 kilohertz, which is practically silent to humans. Since pups can hear up to 45 kilohertz, they'll still get all the squeaky fun out of this toy. And thanks to its unique "Chew Guard Technology" and reinforced seams, it's extra durable, which means it won't immediately turn into shreds. The plush gator is the perfect size for little dogs and larger pups alike, but the brand sells a variety of other creatures too. Rocco is a 3-year-old Morkie with the energy of a puppy, and if there's one thing he loves more than cheese treats and cuddles, it's his extensive collection of toys. He zooms around the house with them, then plops down in his bed to chew. With these, I don't hear a sound, just small whiffs of air when I'm nearby. And he's just as excited as he is with his regular, very loud squeaky toys. It's been about two weeks now, and much to my delight, this gator is Rocco's new go-to from the bin of toys. Who knows if he'll ever grow tired of it, but for now, I think I love this squeakless little guy more than he does! I'm not the only Amazon pet parent to rave about it. More than 2,700 shoppers give it a five-star rating. "We have a 10-month-old German Shepherd puppy who loves her squeaky toys. This is a sanity saver," said one person. "She squeaks all she wants and I can read or watch TV. Size is perfect for her. Quality good. Durability OK. Peace in the house amazing." "These are very good for the chewers!" shared another. "My dog could hear it but I could not. He is a labradoodle and literally nothing lasts with him! This [toy] lasted for several months until he got the fluff open." While the majority of buyers (and their pups) love this toy, parents of aggressive chewers note that it doesn't always last long. "I got this for my pup ... [and] it certainly got her attention. She was in love!" noted one review. "However, after about 30 minutes of play time, I started to see the random balls of fluff that indicate a massacre had taken place!" Ready to give it a shot? Amazon carries a bunch of cute HearDoggy animals — add one to your collection (your ears will thank you). If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Need pet insurance for your beloved furry friend? Check out the offers below:
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
My dog is obsessed with this squeakless toy — it's on sale for Amazon Pet Day
I love my dog more than most humans, so naturally, I spoil him rotten. But no matter how much I adore Rocco, I can't deal with the nonstop squeaking of plush toys — especially when I'm trying to read or work from home. So I set out to find a solution that would keep him happy and give me some peace and quiet. Enter the GoDog HearDoggy! Flattie Toy. It squeaks, but only at a frequency dogs can hear. It's been an absolute lifesaver. Rocco's happy, I'm happy and, right now, it's still on sale one day after Amazon Pet Day ended. Read more: Yahoo editors are going mutts over these Amazon Pet Day deals — save up to 40% According to the description, it has an "ultrasonic, silent squeaker that is out of human hearing range." How is that possible? Its squeakers are tuned to a frequency between 24 and 28 kilohertz, which is practically silent to humans. Since pups can hear up to 45 kilohertz, they'll still get all the squeaky fun out of this toy. And thanks to its unique "Chew Guard Technology" and reinforced seams, it's extra durable, which means it won't immediately turn into shreds. The plush gator is the perfect size for little dogs and larger pups alike, but the brand sells a variety of other creatures too. Rocco is a 3-year-old Morkie with the energy of a puppy, and if there's one thing he loves more than cheese treats and cuddles, it's his extensive collection of toys. He zooms around the house with them, then plops down in his bed to chew. With these, I don't hear a sound, just small whiffs of air when I'm nearby. And he's just as excited as he is with his regular, very loud squeaky toys. It's been about two weeks now, and much to my delight, this gator is Rocco's new go-to from the bin of toys. Who knows if he'll ever grow tired of it, but for now, I think I love this squeakless little guy more than he does! I'm not the only Amazon pet parent to rave about it. More than 2,700 shoppers give it a five-star rating. "We have a 10-month-old German Shepherd puppy who loves her squeaky toys. This is a sanity saver," said one person. "She squeaks all she wants and I can read or watch TV. Size is perfect for her. Quality good. Durability OK. Peace in the house amazing." "These are very good for the chewers!" shared another. "My dog could hear it but I could not. He is a labradoodle and literally nothing lasts with him! This [toy] lasted for several months until he got the fluff open." While the majority of buyers (and their pups) love this toy, parents of aggressive chewers note that it doesn't always last long. "I got this for my pup ... [and] it certainly got her attention. She was in love!" noted one review. "However, after about 30 minutes of play time, I started to see the random balls of fluff that indicate a massacre had taken place!" Ready to give it a shot? Amazon carries a bunch of cute HearDoggy animals — add one to your collection (your ears will thank you). If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Need pet insurance for your beloved furry friend? Check out the offers below:
New York Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
How Stacy London Spends Her Sundays
Stacy London wants you to wear whatever you want. Ms. London, a fashion expert and entrepreneur, is best known for the show 'What Not to Wear,' which she co-hosted with Clinton Kelly on TLC for over a decade. But as she's changed, so have her views toward style: She no longer wants people to adhere to a specific set of fashion rules. 'Style is about the individual, and that is never about whether or not you are participating in trends,' Ms. London, 55, said. 'It's about what you are doing with your raw material, your body and your self-expression.' 'What Not to Wear' ended in 2013, but the co-hosts teamed up again for 'Wear Whatever the F You Want,' which airs on Prime Video. Instead of rules, it focuses on channeling inner fashion desires. 'I may not think this is the best we could have done, but have I made you the happiest? Because that's the goal, and that's the shift between where we were and where we are now as a society,' Ms. London said. In addition to the show, Ms. London designs clothes for women going through menopause for her QVC line By Stacy London. 'I still love style and I still love fashion, but I wear suits, I wear trousers. I feel more confident that way than I did wearing skintight pencil skirts and five-inch heels,' she said. Ms. London moved into a three-bedroom apartment in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood in Brooklyn in 2006. It's filled with racks of clothes, art and dinosaur knickknacks. 'I knocked out every single wall, so it's just a duplex loft with no doors,' she said. 'There's a huge staircase in the middle of the apartment that leads down to the bedroom and the dressing room.' Ms. London shares her home with Dora, a 'completely vindictive' 8-year-old Morkie (Maltese-Yorkshire Terrier). SLEEP MODE It depends on what Saturday night was like, but I can sleep in anywhere from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There's just something about sleeping in. My bedroom is a dark little cocoon, and Dora sleeps with me. I love my sheets and my mattress, and sometimes I'll get coffee and get back into bed and read. I have a whole separate shelf with books on my reading list, and I'm slowly working through them. FINDING THE CURE I'm obsessed with Salt's Cure's brunch and sitting on their patio. You can go one of two ways: You can do salty or sweet, or salty and sweet. I can never decide, but I usually start salty and then go sweet. The egg, avocado and hash brown is one section of my breakfast, and the gluten-free chocolate chip oatmeal griddle cakes are the second. I always have to order extra eggs because Dora's going to eat them. Yes, I'm that person. WALK IT OUT I love walking to Dumbo, and I like to go to Brooklyn Flea. I've found incredible designer pieces there for really reasonable prices. Some things that people wouldn't necessarily know, more so '90s designers that I love, like Romeo Gigli. Also, because I love tchotchkes, it may be something like accessories or a weird little trinket I want to put on a shelf. If I'm in Dumbo, I'll also without fail go to Front General Store, which has vintage clothing and jewelry. Walking by the carousel is always fun for Dora. There's tons of dogs she could potentially attack, but she also loves being by the water. PERFECT FIT I've been working with my friend Suleika Jaouad, who recently went on tour. She does not love shopping, and she doesn't love styling. She has great taste, but I don't think she trusts herself enough. So on Sundays, I've been doing fittings for her here, just in my clothes. She'd rather wear things of mine that she likes and she can fit and she knows. COFFEE CATCH-UP I like to go to Liz's Book Bar, which is a bar and a bookstore. It's a lovely atmosphere, and I'll meet my friends there. They're my neighbors, and we try to make a point to see each other on the weekends. I might order an iced latte, or I might get a bottle of rosé. SUPPORTING LOCAL I've been in Carroll Gardens for so long that I've really watched this area gentrify completely and utterly overnight. It's been hard since Covid to watch so many small businesses not make it, so I try to be as supportive as possible. There are two stores I love on Court Street, Rue Saint Paul and Woods Grove. If I'm in the mood to shop, I'll go there. TAKEOUT TIME There's nothing better than Han Dynasty. I order the rice noodles stir-fried with scallions, egg and shredded chicken. The noodles are oily, and they come with chili oil on the side. I find that it's spicy but not salty, so I add some salt. Then I'll literally eat an entire container. Currently, I'm watching 'The Righteous Gemstones,' but I'm a scripted TV connoisseur. I watch everything scripted. HOUSEKEEPING The thing I have to do to cap off my Sundays is to go through my entire week. I'll look at my calendar, coordinate with my assistant and coordinate with my housekeeper, who takes care of Dora when I travel. I get very overwhelmed with too much information, and frankly, there's a lot going on right now with the promotion of my new show. I have the best assistant in the world — she's like my other half. SNUGGLES My scrubbing and polishing — what I call my skin care and teeth polishing — routine can take about 40 minutes. Dora goes and sleeps in her little anti-anxiety bed and then we go downstairs. I usually go downstairs to bed before her and then I wait for the little pitter-patter of her feet before I turn off the light so she can get up on the bed, too.
