“Don’t Leave Me Behind!”
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et’s pretend you’re planning a dream vacation. You make all the travel arrangements, take time off work, pack, check your flight status, and just as you’re about to leave, you catch a glimpse of your beloved pet looking at you with those big doe eyes, pleading, “Don’t leave me behind!” As nice as vacations are, there’s always something a little heartbreaking about leaving behind Fido, Bailey or Gus. But in this day and age, you don’t have to. Increasingly, hotels and tourist attractions are accommodating to pets. Here in Santa Fe, we’re as pet-friendly as it gets. In 2015, Santa Fe was ranked among the top 10 pet-friendly destinations in the United States by FlipKey, a vacation rental marketplace owned by TripAdvisor. When traveling with your furry friend in tow, a bit of planning ahead can ensure both you and your pet have the best experience possible. For example, The Humane Society recommends the safest and most comfortable way for pets to travel is inside a carrier or crate. It’s important to ensure the carrier is big enough so your pet is comfortable and has some mobility, but not so big that he or she can be jostled around. When it comes to road trips, the back seat or cargo area is preferred, as an animal in the front seat could become severely injured in the event the airbag is deployed. It’s a good idea to put together a traveling kit, complete with essential items your pet may need, such as identification, a temporary travel tag for the collar with current contact information, vet records indicating your pet is current on its vaccinations, plastic bags, food, a favorite toy and clean-up supplies. With the right planning, there’s no reason you should have to face those sad eyes begging, “Take me with you!” again.