Latest news with #pettravel
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
What every Irish driver should know - How to bring your dog in the car
Bringing along your furry best buddy for a spin is something that pretty much all pet owners will do, but many may be breaking the law, because there is a legal requirement to make sure your dog is properly restrained if it's in the car with you. Yes, that means a doggie seatbelt. These are simple enough devices that attach to the car's seatbelt and then clip onto your dog's harness — and a harness is definitely better than a collar in this instance. Once safely clipped in, your dog can carry on using your car's seat as a kind of comfortable, mobile sofa. Well, that's what my greyhound does, anyway. Advertisement If you want to put your pet in the boot of an estate, hatchback or SUV, then that's fine, but you still need a form of restraint. If the dog is in the boot, then you'll need either a divider that goes between the back seats and the boot — which prevents the dog from being flung forwards into the passenger cabin in the event of an accident or emergency braking (which can hurt both them and you) — or you'll need a crate or cage that fits in your boot. Just be aware that some larger crates won't fit into a conventional hatchback. @ Bringing along your furry best buddy for a spin is something that pretty much all pet owners will do, but many may be breaking the law, because there is a legal requirement to make sure your dog is properly restrained if it's in the car with you. ♬ original sound - Once you've done the restraining bit, you'll then have to think about heat. Dogs heat up far faster than humans — it's all the hair — so it's a good idea, on a warm day at least, to drive with the windows slightly open to make sure that your dog is getting a constant flow of fresh air. Air conditioning with vents in the back seats can help, but an open window is better. That said, don't open the window much. Dogs sticking their heads out of car windows might be fun for them and look cute to onlookers, but it's a sad fact that many dogs have been injured — either by being hit in the face, or worse, if the window is fully open — by jumping or tumbling out of the car altogether. So, it's best to just open the window a little. For the same reason, it's also a good idea to invest in some window shades, even the simple stick-on ones, which will keep the sun off your dog as you drive and ensure that it's kept at a more comfortable temperature. Advertisement When you come to a stop, never leave your dog alone in the car with the windows up. On a day that's just nicely warm from a human perspective — say 20 degrees Celsius — a car interior can quickly heat up to as much as 47 degrees Celsius, and that's enough to give your dog heatstroke, and maybe even kill them. While some people with electric cars use dedicated settings to keep the air conditioning running while the car is parked, that's not really good enough — the interior can still heat up to the point of heatstroke, and the air conditioning will switch off if the car's systems detect that it's overworking the battery. So, don't assume that tech is going to get you off the hook in this instance. You'll also want to bring along some water for your dog, especially if it's a long journey, and there are some very handy collapsible bowls that fold up almost flat, precisely for this purpose. Explained Things every Irish driver should know: What to do... Read More Be careful about feeding your dog before they get in the car for a long journey. Animals get car sick just like humans, and a full stomach is going to make that so much worse. Even a dog that has been happy to be in the car in the past can get car sick unexpectedly, so keep the food intake down before a long journey. Advertisement Any long journey should always be interspersed with rest breaks, allowing your dog to stretch their legs and go for a pee and a poop. Which means it's also a good idea to keep a roll of dog poop bags handy in the glovebox for cleaning up afterwards. As well as heatstroke, car-sickness and thirst, another very human issue that can afflict dogs is mental health, which is why it's important to bring your dog in the car for regular little spins that don't end in a trip to the vet. Many owners only ever bring their dog in the car for vet visits, which can lead to anxiety around car journeys — so it's important to teach your dog that going in the car can also be fun, such as driving to a new park or beach for a run. Finally, don't forget to bring some items to keep your dog happy on a long journey — whether that's their favourite chew toy or just a few treats that they can nibble on as you go. And, of course, never allow the fact that your dog is in the car with you to distract you from your driving.
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Traveling With Pets: Tips To Make It Easy
getty Traveling with pets is not always easy. Small animal veterinarian Dr. Liza Cahn, a consultant for Embrace Pet Insurance, gives tips on how to make the process easier. For both you and your pet. However you plan to travel with your pet, be it by car, train, plain or bus, it's extremely important to prepare ahead of time. There are generally lots of options for finding pet-friendly accomodations. There are several websites dedicated to this. Many hotels and airbnbs also allow pets, although it's important to fully read and understand their pet policy ahead of time, as they may require additional fees or for your pet to be current on specific vaccinations. When in doubt, get in touch directly with the accommodation. While all the tips above apply to flying with pets, a few other considerations include scheduling a direct flight whenever possible and traveling at times that are less busy. It is safest for your pet to fly in the cabin with you, however, there are strict size requirements. The next best option is shipping your pet as manifest cargo. This is safer than sending them as checked baggage, due to stricter handling procedures and temperature control. Always research the airline's policy well ahead of travel. They have requirements ranging from the size and type of crate that is acceptable to what you can put in the crate with your animal. Ideally, you want to include a few comfort items, such as familiar toys and bedding, a small litter box for cats, as well as plenty of fresh water.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
How to pack when traveling with your pet
Ottawa Watch We cover everything you need to know to get on the road with your pet.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- The Independent
Pet passports: What are the rules for international animal travel, and how might they change?
British travellers have been hit hard by Brexit – from tight restrictions on length of stay to complicated red tape at European Union frontiers. Ryanair passengers have even found themselves stranded overnight in Portugal because their UK plane developed a fault, and an EU jet was not permitted to fly them home. But at least human British travellers do not require a rabies jab and treatment against tapeworm before being allowed to visit Ireland. Those are among the unfortunate canine constraints to which Boris Johnson 's government signed up. As part of the 'Brexit reset' between the European Union and the UK, there are hopes that the rules could be eased. These are the key questions and answers for animal owners. What was the situation before Brexit? For many years, British travellers had been able to take a cat, a dog or even a ferret abroad with minimal formalities, being routinely stamped in and out. But pet passports for UK residents ceased to be valid from the start of 2021. Prior to Brexit there had never been any restrictions on taking animals between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is still no problem to take a pet from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, but rules apply in the opposite direction due to the unusual status created along with a 'border in the Irish Sea' that the Johnson government negotiated. What are the rules now for taking a pet to the European Union? You must get your pet microchipped. Assuming the animal is 12 weeks or older, it must then be given a rabies vaccination. At least three weeks must elapse between the rabies jab and travelling. For each journey, the pet must have an EU animal health certificate (AHC) confirming the microchipping and the vaccination. For dogs, tapeworm treatment must be administered between one and five days before entering the European Union or Northern Ireland. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of entry to the EU or Northern Ireland. Vets charge around £200 for the certificate. A new one is required for each journey. Lindsay Mayor, owner of border terrier Dusty, says: 'The form itself is tricky and can be incorrectly completed on which case you are not free to travel.' The maximum validity for re-entry to Great Britain is four months – but in any event humans with UK passports are limited to 90 days, so that is not relevant for most people. What's the tapeworm rule? Travelling direct to Ireland (or, much less likely, Finland, Malta or Norway)? A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm and record it in either an animal health certificate or a valid pet passport. The treatment must be given no less than 24 hours and no more than five days before you arrive. What happens on arrival in the EU? You must arrive at a recognised point of entry; all the transport operators to the EU qualify. Officials will stamp the paperwork. And coming home? The steps you needed to take in order to travel with your pet are all valid for readmission to the UK. I have heard about pet 'freedom of movement'. How does that work? In contrast to the rules for human migration, it is something of a doddle to register a pet at an address in the European Union, and for it to adopt the appropriate nationality. Because the rules for travel from the EU (and Northern Ireland) to the UK are easier, this works well for many people. But the animal may need more regular rabies jabs than in Great Britain. What is the government hoping to negotiate with the EU on pet travel? To return to something like the relative ease that prevailed before Brexit. British pets are not regarded as a threat to EU nations, but as part of 'taking back control' after the Brexit vote the UK government agreed to the current complicated arrangements. It would involve a UK pet passport having roughly the same status and acceptability as an EU document. Risks and benefits? There is an inevitable small health risk in having more animals travelling to and from Europe. But that is outweighed by the social benefits of more people feeling able to travel abroad with their pets, and the economic advantages to the tourist industry.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Isle of Man pet owners urged to be aware of travel checks
People planning to take their pets to Northern Ireland are being urged to be aware of new rules set to come into 4 June, routine checks on animal health certificates (AHC), which are issued by vets for each journey, will be carried out at ports in Belfast and Isle of Man government said the changes were part of the implementation of the Brexit deal, which sets trading rules between the UK and the for Environment, Food and Agriculture Clare Barber urged pet owners to "plan ahead to avoid disruption or distress" as the shift represented a "significant change for pet owners" . "Please speak to your vet in good time, and check official guidance before you travel," she requirement for the certificate remains unchanged, but the inspections are set to be introduced to align the island with other Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, which operates ferry services to Belfast, is working with the Manx government to make people aware of the owners travelling by ferry must report for the checks at a facility in Belfast upon travel from the Isle of Man to Northern Ireland pets must be microchipped and be vaccinated against are required to enter via a recognised point of entry, and dogs must be treated for pet owners must also be able to provide a valid AHC or EU Pet commercial flights from the Isle of Man do not currently allow pets, but those travelling by private aircraft must follow the same rules. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
