| Hot dogs and planes! Summer is a good time | | | | the plane, but don't take off yet - let the |
| for both of them. Why not try taking your dog | | | | animal sit in the plane and get used to it. |
| flying with you if you haven't already? | | | | If you will be using a harness to secure them |
| | | | now is a good time to calmly give it a try. |
| I'm not talking commercial airlines here, | | | | Nonchalance and acting like you have all the |
| this is general aviation. Little private | | | | time in the world is crucial here if you have |
| planes owned by little private people who fly | | | | a skeptical pet. |
| out of little private airports (or dirt | | | | |
| strips as the case may be). | | | | A couple of dry runs like this are ideal as |
| | | | they allow the pet to acclimate themselves to |
| There are probably lots of people reading | | | | the new situation on their own terms. |
| this who have put their dog in a crate and | | | | |
| watched it vanish off into the cargo hold of | | | | Eventually you can start up the plane and see |
| the commercial jet for a trip and wondered if | | | | how things go in the backseat. If you are |
| that animal would have disintegrated into a | | | | happy with what is going on then keep the |
| nervous puddle of goo by the time the plane | | | | "baby-step" format going until you are 100% |
| landed at the destination...this is a | | | | sure that your pet is comfortable in the |
| completely different situation. We're talking | | | | plane. Practice taxiing. |
| a chance to get out of the house and have | | | | |
| some fun with your pet!!! | | | | Then, finally, you can take off. As you can |
| | | | see, this is not an impulsive "Oooh it's |
| Think of it as an opportunity to spend more | | | | Saturday, let's go flying for the first time |
| quality time with your hairy (or scaly or | | | | today" type of deal. You MUST consider the |
| slimy) friend. In addition to dogs I will | | | | pet's well-being, or you might end up paying |
| also include all other "pet" animals that | | | | a doggie psychotherapist a lot of money |
| could comfortably fit in a small plane - | | | | somewhere down the road. This is avoidable. |
| cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, pot bellied pigs, | | | | Take your time. Plus, anyone who is a dog |
| ant farms, bullfrogs, you name it! | | | | psychotherapist needs to be seriously |
| | | | questioned as to their sanity anyway. |
| That said, a good plan when considering | | | | |
| bringing your buddy along for his first | | | | Things to bring with you on that first |
| flight is to keep in mind how your pet reacts | | | | fateful flight: |
| to riding in the car. If he is "gung-ho" | | | | |
| about it, there's a pretty good chance that | | | | 1. Yourself |
| he'll enjoy the plane as well. | | | | |
| | | | 2. Helper |
| If the instant he rounds the corner and sees | | | | |
| the car he barfs, this probably isn't going | | | | 3. Pet |
| to be an enjoyable time for either one of you | | | | |
| and perhaps you should reconsider. | | | | 4. Safety harness for pet to sit in back seat |
| | | | if pet is large enough |
| However, if you are stuck between a rock and | | | | |
| a hard place and your projectile-vomiting pet | | | | 5. Food & water for everybody |
| absolutely HAS to fly with you there is a | | | | |
| product out there that works beautifully | | | | 6. Hearing protection |
| called Sic Sacs. Intended for humans, the | | | | |
| developers probably wouldn't mind if you used | | | | 7. A sense of humor |
| them for a different species. (Assistant in | | | | |
| full-body rubber suit to sit in back seat | | | | 8. Windex to clean nose prints off the window |
| with pet and hold bag is highly recommended | | | | |
| if you choose this option). | | | | Take advantage of summertime and spend some |
| | | | quality time with your pet - it may take a |
| An important consideration when flying with | | | | little bit of getting used to for both of |
| an animal is hearing protection. You have it, | | | | you, but in the long run it will be well |
| so why shouldn't they? Their hearing is even | | | | worth the effort, and it will ensure that you |
| more sensitive than yours. | | | | can spend more time together and less time |
| | | | feeling guilty for neglecting them at home |
| Mutt Muffs! What, you say? A company called | | | | whole you go out and have all the fun! |
| Safe and Sound Pets makes aviation headsets | | | | |
| for dogs, which they call Mutt Muffs. The | | | | So, there you were...not thinking about |
| research and development behind this product | | | | bringing your pet with you in the plane. You |
| is extensive and it is definitely worth | | | | were worried that he might chew through his |
| looking into if you plan on taking your pooch | | | | crate while you were out flying, but now you |
| on flights with you. They even engineered | | | | have a wonderful opportunity to spend more |
| them to fit a dog's head with special straps! | | | | time with him. Carpe diem! |
| | | | |
| There's no reason why your pet should have to | | | | Looking for more information on private |
| suffer from noise when there is a product out | | | | planes and dogs? Have you ever heard about |
| there that you can train him to wear that | | | | the rescue group of volunteer pilots who fly |
| will protect his hearing. With all different | | | | animals in need to wherever their new home is |
| sizes (yes, there's one that will fit a cat) | | | | going to be? They are looking for volunteers, |
| there's no excuse not to give this a try! | | | | so if you're interested in donating your time |
| | | | and flying expertise to help animals you can |
| How to fly with your pet: You can start out | | | | check it out. The internet is a great place |
| slowly by just taking the pet to the airport | | | | to start your research. The organization is |
| with you. That's all. Let them get used to | | | | called Flying Paws, and after having taught |
| the sights and sounds. | | | | your own animal to ride happily with you it |
| | | | should be a piece of cake! |
| Then your next trip you can put your pet into | | | | |