Trips with Rover:

-- Acclimate your dog ahead of time to buses, blaring horns and noisy hordes by walking him on well-trafficked streets.

 

--Get your dog comfortable with long car rides by taking him for 1-2 hour drives several times before your big trip.

--Stop frequently en route for walks and water, but always keep your dog on a leash.

--Never leave your pets alone in the car. They get nervous and temperatures can rise quickly in warm weather even with the windows cracked.

--Use a dog carrier or crate for small dogs. They’ll feel more secure and be safer.

Pets and Jets

If your animal can’t be with you in the cabin, then don’t put him on an airplane. Despite new regulations issued by the Federal Aviation Administration to implement the Safe Air Travel For Animals Act, both the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States strongly urge that you avoid putting your pet in a plane’s cargo hold. The animals can be subject to rough handling when loading and to extreme temperature changes en route.

If there’s no alternative, then follow these suggestions:

--Visit your vet within ten days of departure to obtain a signed certificate of health that your pet needs for boarding.

--Book a direct flight whenever possible so as to eliminate glitches that might occur when the animal changes planes.

--Know the airline’s restrictions. Some limit the weight for an animal and his crate to 70-120 pounds.

--Minimize your animal’s anxiety by letting him try out his crate ahead of time. Place it in your living room and line it with his favorite blanket and toys.

--Fly midday in winter and mornings in summer to avoid dangerous temperature extremes.

For more tips, check with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, www.aspca.org, the Humane Society of the United States, www. hsus.org, and the Air Transport Association of America, www.airlines.org

Travel Information

-- Philadelphia: Call the new Independence Visitor Center, 800-537-7676, www.gophila.com.

-- New York City: New York Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-NYC-VISIT; www.nycvisit.com.