PetRelocation.com released today the results of its first annual Holiday Pet Travel Survey of more than 7,000 pet owners worldwide. This survey showed that pet owners have different travel profiles than non-pet owners. That is not to say that pet owners are home-bound. The survey found that sixty-three percent of pet owners plan to travel at least 50 miles with their pets during the holidays.
Overall pet owners tend to travel in the U.S.A. rather than overseas. They stay closer to home and tend to stay with friends and relatives more. Dogs come along. Cats stay home. Here are six ways that the travel habits of pet owners differ from other travelers.
Pete owners travel domestically
Of pet owners who travel with pets, a majority of them (71 percent) choose to travel within their state of residence during the holidays. Twenty-eight percent travel out of the state, and eighty-five percent of those who travel with pets for the holidays said that their pets influence the distance of how far they’ll travel for a holiday vacation.
Vacations are short and sweet
Pet owners keep their holiday travel short and sweet. Most pet owners surveyed (45 percent) typically spend between $50-$100 on pet-related products and services during the holiday season. Eighty-five percent of those who travel with pets take holiday trips which last seven days or less, with the remainder of pet owners indicating their trips can last up to two weeks. A majority of pet owners (57 percent) said their pets do not influence the length of their holiday travel.
Stay with friends and family
While a third of respondents said they stay at pet-friendly hotels during their holiday travel, 66 percent said they stay at the home of friends or family during the holidays. This may have something to do with the availability of pet-friendly lodging during the holiday season—a majority of pet owners (85 percent) said that their pets influence where they choose to stay during the holidays.
Dogs come along, most cats don’t
Of those who travel with pets during the holidays, nearly all of them indicated they only travel with dogs. When asked why they choose to travel with their pets, a majority of pet owners (71 percent) said it was “because pets are part of the family and should be with the rest of the family during holiday occasions.”
Dealing with holiday pet stress
When traveling with pets during the holidays, 42 percent of pet owners listed making sure their pets don’t become stressed as their biggest challenge.
Airline hassles and fees
Finding pet-friendly transportation or airlines was the second biggest challenge according to 28 percent of travelers with pets during the holiday season. This is a similar sentiment to the 2010 Summer Pet Travel Survey results in which pet owners indicated airline fees and airline selection as the most difficult road blocks in their pet travel plans.
PetRelocation.com, the pet travel and transportation industry’s leading service provider, offers full-service arrangements using pet friendly airlines for domestic and international pet travel services.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
As an animal professional, I can only say to *never* fly your pets if you can help it. The horror stories are too often alike.
“He went to sleep, and he didn’t wake up.” One mistaken crewmember loading your dog into the wrong cargo area, and they go hypoxic during flight.
“I’m sorry, we can’t find your dog.” One less-than-moral crewmember, and your purebreed dog is now part of his collection. Or, less sinister, a loving crewmember opened the crate to love on, feed, or water the dog, and he’s gone in a flash.
Then, you do have those cases where the dog eats the plane… or at least his crate and the surrounding luggage. Not something you want to pay for.
Generally I’d say if you can’t carry him beneath/on your seat/lap, avoid it at all costs. Fido will miss you, but the kennel will cater to his every desire, and he’ll be ready for a romp the instant he sees you. And yes, most kennels will cater to ANY animal you have, not just dogs and cats. You’d be amazed the animals my kennel has accepted (small horses, therapy ponys, miniature cows, chinchillas, ferrets, rabbits, parrots, fish… you name it).
That said, my dog LOVES a road trip. Rediscover the road in this time of aggressive airports! ^_^
So, dogs are family, but cats aren’t? Can I deduce that from this survey?
Being an owner of a dog friendly bed and breakfast I have witnessed many a happy K9 guest and many a stressed one. So the post above caught my eye, DEALING WITH PET STRESS…and the statement “When traveling with pets during the holidays, 42 percent of pet owners listed making sure their pets don’t become stressed as their biggest challenge”.
There are many things you can do to help diffuse stress. First of all if they are crated then please bring their crate. As it was explained to me years ago, dogs are not hotel animals they are den animals. So, bring their den. At least if they are to be left alone in a strange room they are in their own den. Then bring their blankets and toys that they are used to.
Sometimes travel takes a toll on their tummys. If your dog is sensitive bring along water from home and slowly introduce your pup to the foreign water.
I always pack peptol bismol just in case. Many dogs don’t eat while on the road. So, pack a stock of pooches favorite treats. If they refuse their regular kibble at least they will be getting some nourishment.