TRAVELLING WITH PETS

by Jen Groundwater

SO WE GET IT: you don’t want to leave Bailey or Mittens behind. Sure, they love being with you. And some pets get very anxious when they’re not with people. You may have plans for lots of holiday fun with your pet. But that doesn’t mean they want to leave their routines and surroundings and put up with hours, or even days, of travel, just to be with you.

Your first step should always be to ask yourself if your pet actually wants to go on holiday. Maybe they’d be happier left with a sitter or in a good boarding kennel. But if you know they enjoy the open road, we’ve put together some tips to help your furry BFF enjoy your summer holidays as much as you do. Happy trails!

Pet Vacation

No matter where go with your pet, you’ll need the following: leash and collar, ID tags, food and treats, dishes/bowls, poop bags or litter trays and litter, and medications. It’s always smart to bring along immunization and vet records, especially when crossing international borders. And if your pet isn’t already microchipped, consider doing this for extra peace of mind.

In the car

Set up a cozy place for your pet in the vehicle that’s also safe (we once discovered our dog in the back of our SUV, uncomplainingly sitting under several backpacks that had fallen on him hours before). A crate or seat belt will add security, but be sure your pet is used to it before you set out. Dog owners should plan extra stops for fresh air, leg stretching, and pee breaks. You’ll also need to arrange your own stops and activities so you never leave your pet in a hot car.

Bring some favourite bedding and toys, and throw in an old towel or two for after swimming or on rainy days, and if you have a dog who gets stinky, consider a natural dry shampoo like FurScents.

In the air

If you want or need to fly with your pet, check with the airline before booking your own ticket. Every airline has pet rules, restrictions, and associated fees. Generally, though, you can take a small dog or cat can into the cabin in a ventilated carrier that fits under the seat ahead of you. Larger dogs must travel in the cargo hold. (The “emotional support animals” we heard a lot about a few years ago are no longer permitted in airline cabins. Service dogs for people with disabilities are permitted.)

If you’re planning to put your dog in the cargo hold, there are many things to consider beyond the scope of this article. Research all the potential concerns with your vet or a reliable online source.

Sleeping arrangements

Many hotels, motels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds are pet friendly, usually for an extra charge. If you’re planning on bringing a cat, check in advance that they will be welcome. If you have a dog, you’ll need to keep them under control. No matter where you stay, don’t leave any pet unattended, and if they’re a yowler or barker, consider not bringing them at all. The other guests won’t appreciate their middle-of-the-night warnings.

To find genuinely great places to stay with your pet, check out GoPetFriendly.com; the BringFido app is another great resource (despite its name, it lists cat-friendly accommodations, too).

Family and friends

Just because you call your pet your “fur baby” does not mean other people see it the same way! If you’re hoping to stay with friends or family, you MUST have an honest discussion with your hosts long before you head out on your trip. There are many valid reasons your pet might not be welcome in someone else’s home, and if your hosts say no, you’ll need to make other plans. If they say yes, and you’re sure Fluffy will get along with any resident pets and obey all the house rules, then go for it.

Pet Staycation

Plan ahead! Kennels fill up, especially over the summer. As soon as your own dates are set, line up a pet sitter or make a booking for your pet. Our family has had good luck with TrustedHousesitters, a site where potential pet sitters connect with owners willing to trade a home stay for pet care. This option isn’t for everyone, though.

Boarding kennels are a safe and secure option for most pets (though for elderly pets or those who require injections, a vet clinic is probably the best bet.) Ask lots of questions: Does Fido have access to the outdoors? Can you leave them with their own bedding, toys, food, and medication? Do they interact with other dogs? Look for places with lots of space, a thoughtful layout where pets of similar needs and temperament are housed near each other, and attentive staff that dote on the animals. For example, at Del Norte Kennels in Lantzville, each dog gets three walks a day with a staff member, one-on-one, in a space with toys where they can run and play off leash.

Del Norte’s owner Sara Switzer understands that people and pets can be nervous about a kennel, so she encourages booking your pet for a trial run. “It helps them get to know the place in advance,” she says. Reassuringly, she adds, even the most Velcro-y pets quickly get used to the kennel.

Of the boarding kennels near Fairwinds, Errington Pet Lodge and Del Norte both accommodate cats as well as dogs.

COFFEE. At its core it’s a simple beverage, an acquired taste that has become part of a daily routine for millions of people worldwide.

Canadians drink more coffee than water, securing our place as one of the top 10 coffee-consuming countries in the world at 2.7 cups per person per day for a total of about 14 billion cups being consumed each year.

25 minutes to get there; they open at 8 am and have a fabulous breakfast menu. French Press recently won a gold medal for their Ethiopia Kilenso Moconissa in Golden Bean North America, the largest coffee roasting competition in the world.

After breakfast, and an awardwinning coffee, stroll through Qualicum Beach, visiting the experience en route, coffee is as good an excuse as any to design a memorable road trip close to home. There are also several flavourful reasons to venture farther afield for an overnight adventure.

An Overnight Excursion

If coffee is central to a bespoke overnight itinerary, you can’t go wrong on Salt Spring Island. A stunning 20-minute ferry ride leaves Crofton and arrives in Vesuvius Bay, a good place for that first cuppa. The Vesuvius Café, draped in colourful foliage, sets the stage for the artistic atmosphere at the core of Salt Spring’s charm. From there, you can work your way through more than ten cafés, and if you plan your trip for a Saturday, the Salt Spring Saturday Market is not to be missed. It runs 9 am - 4 pm from April 1st to October 28th.

opposite from top White Rabbit; French Press (images courtesy of White Rabbit Coffee Co.)

this page Slow pour; Vesuvius Café

Making A Day Of It

The biggest question, perhaps, when hitting the road in pursuit of an amazing Cuppa Joe—an interesting phrase with multiple theories on its origin, including connections to a former Secretary to the US Navy, Josephus Daniels, who abolished wine on ships, making coffee the most potent drink available onboard to sailors is: Do you have a cup before leaving or wait to arrive at the destination? My advice, leave early and wait. It’ll be worth it.

From Fairwinds, head north to Qualicum Beach to check out the recent renovations and expansion at French Press Coffee Roasters and Cafe at 92 Primrose Street, with a location opening soon in Parksville. It’ll take about boutiques and enjoying the quaint village atmosphere while prepping your palette for the next brew. With some of the caffeine-fuelled energy enjoyably expelled, travel south to Nanaimo. Enjoy the seawall, Bowen Park or Colliery Dam, then head to White Rabbit Coffee Co. at 321 Selby Street, part of the old train station that also houses one of Nanaimo’s most exciting new restaurants, Black Rabbit Kitchen.

The vibe is simplistically creative with a focus on community and shared moments away from the busyness of urban life.

These are only two of many quality coffee options close to Fairwinds and Nanoose Bay. With so much beauty to

While coffee at its core might be simple, a flavourful energy boost many rely on to start each day; coffee has become complex. Whether you take your coffee as basic as it comes or you prefer an iced Ristretto, ten shot venti with breve, five pump vanilla, seven pump caramel, four Splenda, poured, not shaken, coffee is percolated in history, tradition and regional significance.

Java—also the name of a coffeerich island in Indonesia—is as good an excuse as any (if you need one) for a day trip or mini-staycation in pursuit of perfect caffeination.