Still Planning for Italy with Seymour

My current planning steps include getting everything I need lined up for Seymour's Pet Passport and getting the travel gear Seymour will need. What I've done so far related to his Pet Passport:
1. I downloaded the paperwork I need to take to my vet from the USDA website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/pet_travel/pet_travel.shtml

Part of the paperwork is in Italian so I think I have to get it translated but I haven't gotten that far in the process yet.

2. I updated Seymour's chip information because I hadn't done that since I moved and I wanted to add an emergency number.
I now have to contact the Animal Shelter that put in the chip to see what type of scanner they used. If they don't have an international one, I have read that I have to bring my own. I have to say, that doesn't make sense because if he does get lost in Italy, he won't have the scanner attached to him. Again, I need to do more research on this.

Then I started looking for Seymour's Travel gear. I think I'll be able to start my own Pet Travel Store with all of the stuff I'm getting and probably won't use. Hopefully, I'll save others from making the same mistakes.

My first concern was finding a carrier that is airline approved and is the right size. I went to Pet's Mart and also checked on Amazon.com and eBay. After reading great reviews about a rolling pet carrier, I purchased one similar to the attached picture

The chihuahua in the carrier looks a bit like Seymour, but Seymour wasn't as happy as that dog when he tried it. He was willing to go into the carrier and have me roll him around, but he was bracing himself because the carrier was at a 45 degree angle when rolled. I then unzipped it and left it on the living room floor to get him used to it - and he wanted nothing to do with it. Although it was for pets up to 15 pounds, he looked gigantic in it. It was also not very comfortable because when it's laying down, the metal handle is folded under it.

I then checked on the carriers that the different airlines sold and decided to get one similar. It's a Sherpa carrier, size medium with 3 mesh sides and a back pocket. It is a little bigger than the rolling carrier.

Seymour seemed to like this carrier a little better because he would go in by himself but wouldn't stay in long. It has a nice Sherpa pad but when I pushed on the bottom of the carrier, there was a very hard floor under it and the pad is very thin. I couldn't see Seymour being comfortable in it for 8 plus hours. I took out the floor and put him back in the carrier, zipped it up and carried him around. His body weight made the bottom droop a little, but overall, he seemed satisfied with it. I plan to make another Sherpa-type pad that is a little more cushy for him and will zip him in it when we are in the car so he gets used to being confined. This is the carrier I plan to use - I just hope I don't have to put that hard floor back in it. The other thing I do like about it is that I can make the strap long enough to be able to carry it across my chest - so it's hands-free.

Next I checked on carriers I can use when I take him in stores. etc. but it needed to be very fold able since I am only carrying one small carry on suitcase with me. I found a Outward Hound Sling that said it was for pets up to 15 pounds. I purchased it and tried it out while we walked around an outdoor festival last weekend. He was pretty comfortable and I did like that there was a strap inside that I can connect to his collar and a Velcro strap that goes across the opening. He felt pretty secure in it.

But, the bad news is that it is bigger than I expected - it really is for pets up to 20 pounds so Seymour swims in it. It is sturdy and folds up but is a little bigger than I wanted. Luckily it was only $19.99 because I decided I needed a different one. This trip is getting expensive and I haven't even purchased our airline tickets yet!

I found a smaller Outward Hound sling. It fits in a small pouch - included - and is for pets up to about 7 pounds, which is close to Seymour's weight. It hasn't come yet, so I haven't been able to test it. I really hope that this one works because it would take up minimal space in my suitcase. The only thing that makes me a bit nervous is that they show the carrier with a stuffed animal in it!



If it doesn't work, we will go back to the larger one.

The other thing they mention in the pet travel site regulations is that dogs are supposed to have muzzles, in case they need them. Now, I tried a muzzle on Seymour and he hated it. He is so little, I am hoping no one will say anything because I just can't see putting his little snout in one!

As to other things I will bring for Seymour, he will have a couple of sweaters, a couple tee shirts, a raincoat and a harness. He is just about packed and ready to go!

More Airline Travel Updates

After lots of research, it looks like AirFrance or Delta are really the only airlines I can fly from Texas to Europe with Seymour. AirFrance teams with Delta for the USA portion of the flight and Delta allows pets in the cabin. Delta limits the number of pets in cabin to 4 for overseas flights and charges the same as AirFrance - $200 each way. It makes me realize what a smoker goes through. If you have a habit, you will be charged big time for it! Two hundred dollars to put my dog in a carrier under the seat seems excessive, but we are stuck with it if we want to keep our pets with us.

My next problem was trying to figure out the cheapest days to fly. One day difference can cost you an extra $1000. Since my dates are flexible, I found that Continental is a great place to put in your travel destination and the length of your trip and you can bring up a calendar that shows you the cheapest days to travel. After you look at Continentals site (sorry, they don't allow animals onboard for overseas flights) you can go to the airline that does allow animals and put in those same dates. I found that they are pretty much the same for all airlines. Doing that, I cut the cost of the flight on AirFrance from about $2500 to about $1250 (not including Seymour). You have to remember that they have limited seats for the lower prices so booking early is critical.

But the tricky part is that I have to first book my flight and then call the agent and give them my booking number. They will check to see if there is room for a pet. They have 24 hours to get back to you - and you have 24 hours to cancel your flight (from the time you booked it) without a penalty, so timing is everything. I haven't booked the flight yet since I won't be going until late summer and I have a few more things to figure out, but I know I will need to do it soon.

I am now leaning toward going to Italy - and when I checked flights, it was actually cheaper to go to Rome than to Paris - even though to get to Rome you have to stop in Paris! I know airlines frown on it, but why wouldn't one just book a flight to Rome even if they were going to Paris and as long as they just had carry on bags, get off and save money. I'm not advocating it, but it makes sense to me.

Traveling from the USA to Europe with Seymour

I have been researching how I can take my dog Seymour to Europe with me. Many of the sites I've found have inaccurate information as to which airlines allow pets in the cabin. For example, sites have stated that American Airlines and Continental allow small pets onboard. I called both and looked at their pet policies and it isn't true. I got excited with Continental and found a pretty good deal on a flight to either Spain or France and then called the airline - and it was a no go for pets in the cabin.

So far, the only airline I've found that allows pets in the cabin is AirFrance but the cost of their flights were over twice as expensive and they say it is an additional $200 to have a pet in a carrier under the seat. They also limit the number of pets onboard so you have to make a reservation for your pet separately and check in frequently to remind them of your pet reservation.

An example of the difference in flight costs: I could fly round-trip on Continental to Paris at the beginning of Sept. for about $1000; the same trip on AirFrance was over $2500 - and neither of those prices included the cost for Seymour. I'm not giving up because my goal is to go to Europe for 3 months this year with him. And I do not want him to fly with the checked luggage. I don't think my little chihuahua-mix would survive.

The alternative travel plans would be to drive to Canada or fly to Costa Rica. Although I want to visit Canada again, I don't want to deal with the cold weather. And I have been to Costa Rica but I would need to figure out the bus system - because I would never drive there - and figure out where I would want to stay.

For those of us who feel that our dogs are part of our family, it's one thing to find a place that is considered "pet-friendly" but another thing to try to get there!

I'm still working on it and will write updates as I get more information.

Learn About Your Pets' Past

If you, like me, adopted a rescue with an unknown past, you have to figure it out by watching your dog in various situations. Seymour was 2 1/2 years old when we adopted each other. He was heart worm positive, had kennel cough, had much of the hair rubbed away on his neck and was malnurished. Other than that, I had no idea about his past life. We have been together for over 4 years now and I continue to learn- or think I am learning - more about his life before me.

The way he stops and tries to chase larger pick up trucks leads me to believe that he was dumped or dropped off by someone in a pick up truck. It's a bit heartbreaking to think that as abused as he was, he still misses his old owner.

He could not be more loved now, by me and most adults. He sometimes stays with my friend who has known Seymour since the day I brought him home. This sweet friend worries about Seymour not eating and blames himself "I didn't heat up his food". Seymour eats like a king there and I think he has learned that if he holds off from eating his dogfood long enough, some bacon or pieces of steak will magically appear.

Seymour goes to daycare when I work and when I drop him off in the morning, the wife comes out to the car, and cuddles him and loves on him as she carries him to the house. He has never once not been excited to go in the mornings. Did he ever know this kind of love before?

We were eating in an outdoor cafe one Sunday morning and some musicians were coming in carrying their equipment. As they neared our table, Seymour started growling and barking and trying to nip at one man's feet. I noticed that the man was wearing work boots. This has happened twice before and leads me to believe that his previous owner may have worn boots, and possible kicked him. Just a speculation.

What does this have to do with travel? I know to be aware of men wearing boots coming near us. If they are brave enough, I ask them to just put their hand out to let Seymour sniff it and he is then OK with them. Even though he is only 7 pounds, his bark can scare a grown man and it's not easy to convince them that he is harmless. He has never bitten anyone and is a real people pleaser. He would much rather be around people than other dogs. But he does seem to get along with female dogs. Actually, he loves women in general. He also loves children and worries when an infant starts to cry. Did his previous owner have to give him up because they had a child?

To get him to stop barking, I read that a dog whistle hurts a dogs ears and that can distract him. So, I purchased a whistle, he started barking, I started blowing, and he came to me. Obviously his previous owner whistled to get him to come. It didn't work as anticipated, but I'm happy he comes when I whistle. On a trip, that is important information if he ever gets loose.

So, as you learn more about your dog, use those lessons to improve the travel experience for your and your pet.

A New Travel Gadget

We haven't been traveling much lately, but Seymour still goes just about everywhere with me around town. Often Seymour gets thirsty from leading me around and if I carry water, it's usually only a water bottle for me. I pour water into my hand to give him a drink - not very efficient and pretty messy. And, for those of you that have kept up with my blog, I still use the Gulpy Pet Water Dispenser but I've taken to leaving it in the car because it is a bit bulky. I found a great new product called "Popware for Pets". It's a collapsible bowl that easily hooks onto his leash or fits in a small purse.

When you pop it open, it holds about a cup of water. It probably is best for small animals up to 15 to 20 pounds or so. But, Seymour is 7 pounds and when he is done drinking, there is plenty of water left to share with his friends.

This has become one of my favorite things since it is so easy to carry with us. Often when I take him to an outdoor restaurant, I will ask for water for him, but sometimes they forget - since he isn't actually a paying customer! Now, I just ask for a glass of water for myself, pop over his cup and pour water into it. Easy!

I found this cup online for $7.99 but they might sell it in pet stores. I wish I had invented this great little travel idea. I can't wait for our next trip in our camper. This will be perfect to pack.

The Post Office with Seymour

This is my 3rd Christmas with Seymour and I can hardly remember a time when he wasn't part of my life. I'm finding that the more I bring him with me or talk about him, the more I find out about other people who are in love with their pets. It sometimes feels that people are a bit embarrassed to admit their closeness with their pets until they meet a kindred spirit.

I was in the post office a few days ago, mailing a Christmas package and I had Seymour with me. The line was long and the package was too big to carry both it and Seymour so I let my 6 pound guy down - but leashed. Little by little people started petting him and then talking about their favorite pets, past and present. The long line felt less long and I was feeling the warmth and kindness of the people around me. When I finally got to the counter, my warm feeling was quickly squelched when the postal worker said "You know dogs are not allowed in here." Now, I had been bringing Seymour to the post office for about 2 years and no one had said that before. Didn't he see how much people were talking to each other in line, smiling and calling Seymour to them to pet him? Was he just feeling overworked or was he the designated "buzz kill"?

Everyone in line got quiet and the whole mood of the place changed. I wondered if he had a pet - or if he might need one? When I left, I didn't see a "no pets" sign on the door.

I really believe that there should be more openness to allowing pets in various shops and businesses. I am fine if they have signs that say "well behaved pets are welcome" or even "pets in arms are welcome" if they are afraid of breakables. We need a little more softness in our world and I think pets help to add that.

I will not stop bringing Seymour with me until I see an actual "No Pets Allowed" sign at the Post Office. Maybe Seymour can win the heart of that stoic postal worker before he has time to put up the sign!

Pets Can Be a Fun Part of Halloween

It's too late for this year but think about including your pet in some of your Halloween activities next year. I found a pet parade and a Halloween Costume contest for pets both sponsored by rescue groups. It was fun to dress Seymour - and coordinate my costume with his. He ended up getting some great treats and freebies and I got a chance to bond with other crazy pet lovers.

The parade was small and the walk was less than 1/2 mile but there were lots of people standing along the route waving us on. When we got to the finish, they had a large bowl of water waiting for the pets. Seymour enjoyed sniffing small female dogs but wasn't as comfortable with the larger dogs - especially the larger male dogs. With a little maneuvering, we were able to stay closer to the smaller dogs and he was fine. He also really liked people stopping to pet him - especially little people. His nickname should be "Mr. Attention". Our hotdog and ketchup costumes won the Funniest Costumes prize and Seymour won some Carnivore Kisses - 100% Duck Treats. He is a very picky eater but he LOVES these treats. I think I know what will be in his Christmas stocking this year!

The Pet Halloween Costume contest was held at our local nursing home and it was so heartwarming seeing the residents enjoying the dogs. No matter how disabled some of the residents were, they all reached out to touch Seymour and the other pets. Most had smiles on their faces and loved seeing the dogs (and a few cats and a snake) in costumes. Seymour ended up winning 1st place in his division for his Pirate costume.



It was great getting a chance to dress up and have Seymour share the experience. Luckily, he doesn't mind putting on funny clothes as long as he can spend time with me.

It was even better knowing that our small entry fees went to the local rescue group. Everyone was a winner. And I already have Seymour and my costume for next year!