December 12, 2020
Travelling with Pets over Christmas
Are you travelling with pets over Christmas?
Although it’s “the season to be jolly”, it’s also the busiest time of the year so making plans well ahead of time will help to avoid disappointment. Since this is the peak period, it’s best to plan well in advance as things get booked up fast.
Book ahead
Laraine Bunt from Hamilton Heritage Bed & Breakfast near Newcastle in New South Wales says, “It pays to book early. December/January are very busy times and as there are not very many pet-friendly places in the area we always book out fast.”
The same is true for kennels, catteries and pet sitters – these services are in high demand at this time of year and may even have waitlists.
Yaps Cat Oasis Resort recommend people book by about August / September each year to secure a spot for Xmas, but each year is different. Jodie the duty manager says, “Some of our regular customers like to book at the start of the year. We are the largest cattery in far north QLD, licensed to hold close to 100 cats at peak times. The dogs are located at a different location and it is run by a different team and they also have high demand at this time of year.”
Is your family pet-friendly?
While you may see your pet as a family member, others may not be so welcoming so always ask if you can bring your pet with you when visiting a relative’s house. Don’t just assume Fido or Fifi are welcome. It’s also a good idea to ask who else will be attending – ask if there are people with allergies, other resident pets or worse still someone who dislikes pets?
Air Travel
Remember that this is the hottest time of the year in Australia so try to avoid flying your pet when the temperature is highest such as midday. If you are travelling interstate by air, there are limited places for pets available on flights and book out fast!
Flea and tick treatments
Another thing to consider is that that most pet-friendly accommodation, kennels or catteries require proof of vaccinations and flea and tick treatments so don’t leave it to the last minute and risk not being admitted. Jodie adds:
“All boarding pets need to be up to date with their yearly vaccinations and if they are due at or around the time of coming into the cattery, they need to be done 10-14 days beforehand. A copy of the current vaccination certificate must be sighted by our staff. We recommend that customers treat their cats for fleas and worms before coming into the cattery.” – Jodie, Yaps Cat Oasis Resort
Pet costumes
Finally, although dressing up your pup or kitty might be fun for you, it might more ‘Ho ho no!’ for some pets. If you do intend to put your pooch in a Santa outfit or kitty as an elf remember not to leave the costume on them for too long.
The festive season is a great time of year to spend with your family and pet, but being prepared ahead of time will help to reduce holiday stress and ensure that it really is “the most wonderful time of the year.”