A lot of people (rightfully so) imagine travelling with pets is like this cute little adventure. Yeah, you know the picture. It’s usually something like a happy dog sticking its head out of the car window, ears flapping like it’s the best day ever. Like the idea of doing solo travel with your pet to Phoenix, hiking in some gorgeous park, sitting at a beach? Yeah, all of these sound absolutely incredible (and there’s plenty of content online that portrays this too)!
Or maybe that Pinterest-perfect airport moment where a tiny dog in a carrier sits calmly at your feet like it’s starring in a luxury pet commercial. Honestly, that kind of sounds pretty fun too, doesn’t it? All of these fantasies (well, some realities for the lucky) aren’t that easy, and it can potentially become an emotional rollercoaster. And not only for owners! It’s stressful for the animal and probably for anyone else involved. It’s not just a trip, though; it feels like prepping for a giant mission.
There’s a lot of Anxiety Before the Trip
There’s that whole stage where you’re researching travel rules and your brain’s working overtime. Like, okay, can the pet come in the cabin or is it banned because it’s half an inch too tall for the airline’s “approved size”? Can I bring food? What about water for it to drink? And what if my pet is scared? It’s also not like there’s much clarity for any of this either. Plus, it honestly feels like the rules seem to change every five minutes, so it’s like trying to nail jelly to a wall.
Don’t Forget the Fear and Guilt
And there’s the very valid fear (as sadly there’s more than enough horrible news articles out there of pet owners and their experiences with airlines), and don’t forget the guilt, too. There’s that awful guilt of thinking your furry family member might be shoved in the cargo hold, in the dark, with loud noises and zero comfort. Needless to say, the very thought just makes your stomach twist. Plus, some pets don’t cope well at all, and that fear alone is enough to rethink the entire trip.
Honestly, it’s all scary, because you never know what’s going to happen. Usually there’s layers of clauses to where commercial airlines will just say that it’s not their fault (even when it might be). Sometimes, it’s just too expensive, too. Honestly, you might be better off looking into private jet hire for your travels! Granted this depends on the distance, but this might actually be cheaper (plus it’s far more fun and safer too).
Driving isn’t Always that Easy
A road trip sounds like the “safe and simple” option, right? Well, yeah, sure, it can be, and loads of people go for it. But even so, you better believe it’s not always that straightforward. There’s the long drives, as they mean constant stops at service stations, getting the dog water, food, giving them a stretch, and overall, just trying to keep them calm in a space that’s not made for hours and hours.Oh, and you need to keep in mind that not all animals (dogs included) love the car either. While it might sound fairly manageable, but in reality, you’re basically just juggling toilet breaks, feeding times, motion sickness, and praying your pet doesn’t bark for the entire eight hours.
LL x
*This is a contributed post. As ever, all opinions are my own.
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