With more and more families including their pet in every aspect of their lives, plenty of travel and holiday destinations are now catering for those requirements.
Of course the first question to ask is how happy will your pet be with the travel arrangements? Dogs being socially obligate animals they are always keen to be included, but perhaps your elderly cat or timid rabbit are not such great candidates for a car ride. Preparing for a trip to the beach, you must ensure travel arrangements are comfortable and safe, that means a crate or dog guard in the car, or a harness with a secure latch into the seat belt. If you are taking a ferry, look into the rules regarding dogs in cars or kennels, ensure they have water and they are situated in a well ventilated area. Placing a sign to identify your car as having animals inside is a helpful precaution.
Make sure your pet has an up to date ID tag and you have checked out the local veterinary clinic at your destination, just in case of emergencies. Local councils have different bylaws as to where dogs are allowed, on or off leash, so be responsible and follow the rules!
In the UK and Europe public dog access is much more relaxed and allows for better socialisation and behaviour from pet dogs. We want to promote this same accessibility in NZ and to do so we need to present well mannered, and courteous dogs in public. Travelling on trains, buses, planes, trams, plus wider access to city streets it is typical to see a pooch enjoying the city lifestyle with their owners. Early exposure and a more hands off approach from members of the public enables dogs to be involved in every day life, and therefore enriching their world.
Travelling with your pet is a great way of enjoying our beautiful country, with the wind in your hair and their ears flapping in the breeze, it’s an adventure that your best friend should be in on. However, New Zealand pet accessibility has limitations that can make logistics more of a challenge but there are more and more pet friendly locations, rentals and holiday experiences where you can bring your buddy with you. Travelling with pets requires safety planning, do you have an appropriate carry crate or harness to keep your dog or cat safe in the car?
Now before you travel you need to ask how happy will your pet be with your travel arrangements? Helpful tips such as bringing along the comforting smells of home, and the necessary bedding, food and water bowls. Don’t forget poop bags, and be sure to check the rules of dog access in your holiday destination.
Allowing increased public access for our pets can only improve their wellbeing. If we compare our lifestyle options to European dogs for example, where it is far more common for pets to join their owners in cafes, pubs and most modes of public transport, it is time to make that change here in Aotearoa. Despite people fears of dogs in public places, restricting access actually increases the risks of antisocial or frustration behaviours. In fact, the early social exposure and a having a respectful approach to dogs in public spaces will encourage a better standard of welfare for dogs in particular, and lead to safer communities for everyone.
Words — Dr Jess Beer
