Pet Travel Expert

There's a good article up on MSNBC.com by Harriet Baskas about travelers with pets whose behavior can sometimes get hairy:

According to the 2009/2010 National Pet Owners Survey, more than 71 million U.S. households own a pet. Many people consider their pets to be part of the family, and when it's time for a business or leisure trip, many dogs, cats and birds go right along.  While there are an increasing number of hotels, attractions and even bars and restaurants with policies welcoming pets, some travelers still feel the need to chew up the rules.

The article goes on to list several examples of people pushing the pet-friendly limits, everything from sneaking in monkeys to letting their dog swim in the hotel pool.  If pet travel was a puppy training class, that behavior definitely wouldn't pass the test.

We've mentioned before (see: "Pet Travel Etiquette:  Mind Your P's and Oops!") that pet owners who take their pets along with them on trips are ultimately ambassadors for the entire pet travel industry.  Picking up after your pet, making sure you are aware of the local rules and regulations and planning well in advance are all part of making sure that Fido gets a return invite to your favorite pet-friendly chateau.

Not only does this help you and your pet have a more pleasant travel experience, but it can also be a safety factor.  Not knowing that your pet isn't allowed to do certain things (for example, in Singapore, many breeds must be muzzled when out in public) can lead to fines and even stickier situations like quarantine or arguing with local officials in a foreign language.

And remember: if you wouldn't let your kid get away with it, then neither should your King Charles Spaniel!