Company releases list of top five hotels with best pet policies

July 14, 2022July 16, 2022bullingtonb2013 2 Comments

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GoPetFriendly.com’s recently released their choices for the top five hotels with the best pet policies.

The list is part of the Summer 2022 Hotel Pet Policy Guide, which includes pet policies at nearly 150 hotel chains across the U.S. and Canada.

GoPetFriendly.com, which has been advising pet owners on travel since 2009, researched hotel pet policies and ranked them, based on the criteria most important to pet owners, such as affordable pet fees and how many pets are permitted in a room.

The overwhelming winner as the Best Hotel Chain for Traveling with Pets is Kimpton Hotels, part of IHG.

Four other chains topped GoPetFriendly.com’s list:

1. Best Western Hotel Group, which charges a pet fee per room instead of per pet.

2. Red Roof Inn allows pets to stay for free.

3. Drury Hotels has a very clear and comprehensive hotel pet policy.

4. Extended Stay Suites provides a standard pet policy across all their locations.

GoPetFriendly.com also researched hotel chains in the U.S. and Canada to determine their pet policies to include in the guide so travelers can search for information about their favorite hotel and each chains’ rewards programs.

Visit https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/pet-policies-us-hotel-… to view the guide and see expert travel tips, reviews and resources for how to enjoy travel with your favorite furry friend.

Source: https://www.prlog.org/12921799-gopetfriendlycom-picks-top-5-best-hotel-pet-policies.html

Hilton and Mars offering special amenities for those traveling with pets

July 5, 2022July 5, 2022bullingtonb2013 1 Comment

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Hilton and Mars Petcare are expanding their partnership established in September 2021, according to a press release. The companies will now offer access to virtual support from the Mars Pet Expert Team (PET) during their stay via Mars PET On-Demand—an online service to answer questions related to traveling with your cat or dog—at more than 4,600 hotels in Hilton’s portfolio across the U.S. and Canada.

This service is available across Hilton’s seven pet-friendly brands: Canopy by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton.

Perfect Pet-Friendly Stays
Guests and their pets staying at Hilton’s pet-friendly brands in the U.S. and Canada will now have access to pet health, wellness and behavioral support resources to answer questions related to traveling with a cat or dog.

The Mars PET On-Demand service content has been curated by a team of Mars Petcare professionals, including behavior specialists from doggy day care and boarding franchise, Camp Bow Wow and trusted veterinary health experts from BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL and VCA Animal Hospitals.

Hilton guests can also take advantage of a special offer from Banfield Pet Hospital, a provider of preventive veterinary care with more than 1,000 general veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Mexico, with a waived enrollment fee (up to $75 value) for new customers who purchase an Optimum Wellness Plan.

Banfield Optimum Wellness Plans are smart packages of affordable, preventive veterinary services—including 24-7 access to live Vet Chat advice, convenient virtual pet care options, routinely-recommended preventive care like vaccines and physical exams, and a discount on most Banfield services and products not included in the package. To take advantage of this special offer, guests can ask for access to the Mars Petcare online service upon check-in.

“With 23 million families adding pets to their homes over the last two years, this summer will be the first time many of these pets hit the road with their pet parents,” said Jessa Paschke, pet behavior consultant, Mars Pet Expert Team, in the press release. “Through Mars PET On-Demand, we hope to be able to provide pet parents peace of mind through on-demand articles and one-on-one advice to make the whole travel experience, from packing to settling in at the hotel, as seamless as possible so everyone can enjoy their time away together.”

Many of Hilton’s pet-friendly hotels also offer amenities such as pet bowls and extra waste bags. Canopy by Hilton’s Paws in the Neighborhood program provides guests with dog beds, food, water bowls and a “bark bag” filled with a toy, treats and guide to pet-friendly neighborhood activities. Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton team members provide local pet-friendly resources, such as where to find local dog parks, nearby 24-hour vets, pet stores and pet-friendly restaurants.

To learn more, visit http://www.BetterCitiesforPets.com or stories.hilton.com.

Featured photo:

Hilton and Mars Petcarewill now offer access to virtual support from the Mars Pet Expert Team (PET) during their stay via Mars PET On-Demand — a convenient online service to answer questions related to traveling with your cat or dog — at more than 4,600 hotels in Hilton’s portfolio across the U.S. and Canada.

World’s first global pet theme park in the works

February 12, 2022February 12, 2022bullingtonb2013 1 Comment

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Global Pets World Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of WisdomCome Group, in collaboration with Ammbr Group, will be launching the world’s first global pets theme park welcoming pets of all descriptions, along with their owners and other pet lovers.

According to a press release, the Global Pets World will provide a safe, welcoming and entertaining experience for both pet owners and pets.

According to another press release:

“The first pet theme park, located in Hong Kong, will offer resort grade facilities including hotel residence with pool, spa and restaurants, as well as a pet hotel with a dedicated pet spa and swimming pools for pets, a veterinary clinic, a pet food and supplements dealership, and other amenities. There will also be a pet memorial park incorporating associated services relating to the afterlife and the hereafter.

“The Hong Kong pet theme park will be the first of 10 similar projects on the promoters’ road map to be rolled out in the next few years. For future projects the developer has earmarked Florida (USA), Greater Bay Area (China), Singapore/Malaysia, Tokyo (Japan), London (UK), Paris (France), Beijing (PRC), Hangzhou (PRC), and Mumbai (India).”

For more info, check out:

https://globalpetsworld.com/

https://twitter.com/petpawsnft

https://www.instagram.com/petpawsnft/

Private aircraft company announces that emotional support animals still welcome on their flights

January 21, 2021January 23, 2021bullingtonb2013 1 Comment

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Luxury Aircraft, LLC. has announced that amid new restrictions banning emotional support animals on several commercial airlines, travelers have other options and that flying private can offer much more flexibility.

Anyone looking for more flexibility when traveling with their pets can consider private options, such as a charter flight with Luxury Aircraft Solutions.

Up until recently, travelers on commercial flights were permitted to bring pets and certain animals on board as emotional support animals. But, new regulations that no longer require airlines to accommodate emotional support animals have resulted in bans across several major airlines. Travelers can still fly with pets in crates and in the cargo hold, but will no longer be able to bypass these limitations by declaring their pets as emotional support animals.

“Pets are like members of the family, and they should be treated that way,” said Daniel Hirschhorn, Managing Director of Luxury Aircraft Solutions, in a press release. “Most people are uncomfortable with putting their pets in the cargo section of an airplane, and understandably so.”

Hirschhorn added that there are also people who truly need the emotional support and comfort that their pets can provide when traveling.

“We want to remind travelers that we don’t impose these types of restrictions on the private flights we provide,” he related in the press release. “As a matter or fact, we allow pets without any special classification to fly in the cabin uncrated.”

Emotional support animals can offer comfort to people suffering from certain ailments, disabilities, and mental illnesses, and can also be registered as emotional support animals if they generally improve someone’s overall well-being, or help to provide companionship.

Certifying a pet as an emotional support animal is often a fairly simple process, which is what prompted the change in regulations, as this certification means pets qualify for exemption from certain rules.

While cats and dogs are the most common types of pets that are certified as emotional support animals, technically speaking, any species can be an emotional support animal. Pigs, peacocks, and other unusual species were reported to be flying in the main cabins of commercial planes because travelers declared them as emotional support animals.

Service animals are still a special exception when it comes to flying, and will continue to receive exceptional onboard privileges to ensure the safety of the individuals they are traveling with. Although service animals and emotional support animals are often confused with one another, there is a significant difference.

nimals must go through an extensive certification process to qualify as a service animal, which includes specialized training and passing an exam. It is usually a more complex process to certify an animal as a service animal rather than an emotional support animal, and not all situations qualify for this certification.

Most of the major nationwide airlines have immediately started implementing the ban on emotional support animals, including JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Because this is a new announcement from the DOT, it is likely that all major airlines will ultimately follow suit and there will be a nationwide emotional support animal ban on all commercial airlines. Some of these rulings are effective immediately; others will be in effect in the near future.

Based in Long Island, New York, Luxury Aircraft Solutions, a charter company, offers all available aircraft options for travelers, including helicopters and jumbo jets. The company offers their services to business travelers, vacationers, celebrities and other public figures looking to maintain their privacy when traveling, and they also provide wholesale private jet charters through their jetmembership.com platform and jet cards through their Aviate program.

To learn more about Luxury Aircraft Solutions, visit http://www.luxuryaircraftsolutions.com.

Source: Luxury Aircraft Solutions

Featured photo: Tanner Crockett on Unsplash

Flying the ‘furry’ skies? Are emotional support animals a legit way of calming human flyers or is the system being scammed?

Company creates ‘Pop ‘N Go’ product so furry friends can tag along

August 31, 2020October 26, 2020bullingtonb2013 1 Comment

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The California Beach Co. is announcing a way to save a furry friend from being stuck at home when his or her humans go on a picnic, to the park, or on other adventures.

The Pop ‘N Go Pets Playpen® is a travel crate, kennel and nap space for cats, dogs and other pets.

The playpens have fiberglass framing, weave-mesh netting, and a patented “pop-up and down” to make them easy to use, safety-certified, and convenient.

Available colors for the tents are Marine Blue and Granite Grey. UV Sun Shade and other features can be seen in the video below.

For more information, check out the California Beach Company pet collection, by clicking here.

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/with-the-new-pop-n-go-pets-playpen-by-the-california-beach-co-pets-can-always-tag-along-301120642.html

Bringing your dog on the family road trip? Here are some tips…

July 29, 2020September 2, 2020bullingtonb2013 2 Comments

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Your summer vacation plans probably look a little different this year. For many families, that may mean skipping the airport and loading up the car for a family road trip. If you’re planning a trip before the end of summer and bringing your dog along, here are some tips:

Pack Fido a suitcase too:

Well, it doesn’t have to be a suitcase, but pack for your pet too. It’s a good idea to bring a portable water bowl and some extra food for rest stops. It’s a good idea to bring a bag of the type of food you usually feed your dog, so you don’t upset its stomach with a diet change once you’re on the road.

Most people have at least a small collection of plastic bags from grocery shopping. Bringing some of these along, as well as paper towels or cleaning wipes, can be helpful for both picking up after your dog at rest areas, and in the event that your pet vomits or has an accident in the car.

You might also want to bring a few of your pet’s favorite items, like toys and a blanket or bed, to help reduce nervousness during travel.

Be sure your dog is safely secured for the trip:

Use a pet carrier or harness device to keep him or her safe for the ride. According to Erie Insurance, the safety experts at the Center for Pet Safety, a research and advocacy organization based in Reston, Virginia, recommend that pet parents invest in a quality crash-tested harness that protects both pets and travelers if an accident occurs.

The Center for Pet Safety also warns against using long extension tethers and zipline style products during travel because these could allow the pet to launch into the cabin of a vehicle.

If you use a carrier for your dog (or cat), the safest place for them is in the backseat foot well, according to Erie. Don’t let your pet ride in your lap or on the front seat. In an accident, the front seat airbag could kill your pet, or the seat belt could crush the carrier.

For more about pet restraints during auto travel, check out: https://wowmypetdidthat.com/why-you-should-always-secure-your-dog-on-any-road-trip/

Make sure your pet has ID:

One of the biggest worries about taking a pet along on a trip is that he or she will escape in an unfamiliar area, which can be a nightmare. Make sure that your dog has an ID tag on his or her collar with your phone number and address. Also make sure that your dog’s microchip information is up to date.

For extra piece of mind, you can also buy a GPS tracking device for your dog’s collar, such as the one shown below, which is the FitBark GPS dog tracker. It’s waterproof and also monitors activity, sleep quality, distance, calorie balance, anxiety, skin conditions and overall health and behavior 24/7. For more information, click here.

Prepare your vehicle.

The only thing less fun than being stranded on the roadside is being stranded with your dog. It’s a good idea to do the following before you head onto the open highway:

Check your tires. You can check by using “the penny test.” Just insert a penny upside down into a tread groove. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires.
Change your oil and top off fluids. Road trips can rack up the miles on your car in the span of just a few days. Look ahead to preventative maintenance, like oil changes, that may come due while you’re traveling. Taking care of it before you leave is not only good for your car — it’s good for peace-of-mind. Check all of your vehicle’s fluid levels too. That includes windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, brake fluid and power steering fluid. Top them all off as needed.
Check your emergency kit. If you find yourself stranded, a well-stocked emergency kit could help you get back on the road quickly and safely. Pre-assembled kits are available for purchase, or you can use this guide to assemble your own emergency kit.

Make sure your four-legged family member is welcome.

Unfortunately, some cities have restrictions on dog breeds, so you’ll want to know about them if you’re travelling with dogs such as pit bulls, dobermans, Rottweilers and even huskies. The following has a list of breed specific laws by state: https://www.dogsbite.org/legislating-dangerous-dogs-state-by-state.php

It can be helpful to learn the restrictions for areas that you will be passing through. For example, is a muzzle and/or six-foot or shorter leash required for your dog? If so, you can either re-route or plan to bring what’s needed in the event that you are stopping for a rest break or temporarily staying in an area with BSL.

It’s also important to make sure your pet is up to date on shots before you leave and to bring a copy of those records with you just in case your dog gets loose and is picked up by animal control or if you visit anywhere with your dog that requires such records. Most dog parks, for example, require that your dog is wearing an up-to-date rabies tag. The core dog diseases that dogs should usually be vaccinated for include Parvo, distemper, adenovirus, and rabies. These shots will, of course, additionally help ensure the health and well being of your pet.

If your trip involves staying in a hotel or motel, you can find ones that are pet-friendly through sites such as https://www.petswelcome.com/pet-friendly-hotels and trivago.com.

And, if you’re staying with friends or family, it’s definitely wise to inform them that your dog will be coming along too so they can plan accordingly.

Plan for sightseeing

You should never leave your dog in a parked car on a hot day — not even for a few minutes, not even with the windows slightly cracked (which doesn’t help much). According to https://heatkills.org/how-hot/ when temperatures outside range from 80 degrees to 100 degrees, the temperature inside a car parked in direct sunlight can quickly climb to between 130 to 172.

Having a pet with you can be very fun for both you and the pet. But, make sure that you have a plan for where your pup will stay that is safe and cool in the event you are visiting restaurants, shops or tourist atttactions. If this isn’t feasible, you might want to rethink your plans and let Fido stay at home with a pet sitter or friend or family member who isn’t going on the trip.

Bon voyage

Once everything is together, you should be ready to travel with your family, including your pup, so don’t forget to bring along a car charger for your cell phone or have any other camera you plan to use fully charged so that you can take plenty of great pics of your summer adventure.

News story adapted from Erie Insurance Group news release. www.erieinsurance.com

Additional source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/keep-pets-safe-in-cars

What to know before you go—Company offers information about rabies antibody testing for dogs, cats and ferrets before relocation

June 3, 2020September 2, 2020bullingtonb2013 Leave a comment

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Many countries in the world are rabies free, and their animal import regulations guard their country bio-security.

The table below, presented by Air Animal Pet Movers, details common destinations requiring rabies antibody testing before importing dogs, cats and ferrets.
Following the destination country veterinary protocol is critical to a successful move. If something isn’t done correctly at any step, the move will be delayed. Dog owners should expect a minimum of at least four veterinary visits and cat owners should expect a minimum of three visits to complete the required protocols for some countries.

There are two types of rabies antibody titer tests—FAVN-OIE and RFFIT. Only the FAVN-OIE is accepted by all countries.

Testing must be run at an approved lab. Most countries require rabies vaccination on a microchipped pet at least 30 days before the rabies antibody blood draw. Some destinations require at least two rabies vaccinations before the blood draw. The rabies antibody blood draw must be done by a USDA-accredited veterinarian.

Planning ahead for the next move can be critical for corporate transferees and others who are relocating. For example, a dog moves to Japan in 2019 with an approved FAVN-OIE and two years remaining on a three year rabies vaccination. As long as the dog is re-vaccinated in 2021 with no lapsed days in the vaccination, the FAVN-OIE would still be in effect and permit a move to European Union without needing to re-do the test. The critical factor is the rabies vaccination must not lapse—even by one day.

Air Animal’s experienced pet move managers are available to help corporate transferees, relocating families and military families with PCS orders manage the timelines and required pet export documentation.

About Air Animal
Air Animal has helped more than 50,000 families move their 110,000 furry, feathered and scaly pets around the globe since 1977. They welcome referrals from major corporations, relocation management agencies, household goods movers, veterinarians, families, U.S. military and government transferees.

Air Animal is an appointed and endorsed IATA air cargo sales agency working with all airlines that move animals. They are an Indirect Air Carrier cleared for tendering live animals to airlines by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. See airanimal.com to learn more about Pet Moving Made Easy®.

Companies working to improve air travel for pets and anxious pet owners

Tips for moving with a pet

Companies working to improve air travel for pets and anxious pet owners

January 4, 2020September 2, 2020bullingtonb2013 1 Comment

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Pet parents anxious about putting their pets on a plane may be able to take advantage of technology available on select airlines, according to a press release.

CarePod is partnering with OnAsset Intelligence to allow airlines to monitor pets during flight. Pet owners will also be able to receive their pets’ updates and know where their pets are during the travel process.

“I am proud that OnAsset’s products can be used by CarePod to deliver a comprehensive, first class pet travel solution,” said Adam Crossno, OnAsset Intelligence CEO. “Pets are family and we’ve worked closely with the CarePod team to help ensure the reliability of our devices.”

Besides being embedded with OnAsset devices to connect to the enterprise CarePod Pet Aviation Web Solution (PAWS), CarePod’s smart pet pods are German engineered, and designed for pet safety and comfort. The pods have also been developed to withstand the demanding conditions of air travel.

“Our innovative use of technology and breakthrough engineering solutions are matched by our passion for pet safety and well-being,” said Jenny Pan, CEO and founder of CarePod. “Our goal is to transform the future of pet travel and by partnering with OnAsset, we can deliver a robust solution for tracking pet air travel.”

CarePod recently entered the U.S. market via Delta airlines, with domestic services for premium pet travel available at eight locations within the United States.

For more information, please visit www.care-pod.com and www.onasset.com.

About OnAsset Intelligence Inc.:

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, OnAsset Intelligence is a global leader in airborne asset tracking services. OnAsset manufactures wireless devices that monitor all modes of transport including land, sea and air. Products and services include SENTRY and Sentinel wireless hardware, the Vision and OAInsight Monitoring Platforms, and enterprise API. Its flagship product, SENTRY FlightSafe^®, is approved by commercial and cargo operators across the globe. For more information visit www.onasset.com.

About CarePod:

A global tech company headquartered in Singapore, CarePod is transforming pet air travel. CarePod believes pets are at the core of modern families who want to live, work and travel together.

Review of “The Dog Went Over the Mountain”

December 13, 2019September 6, 2020bullingtonb2013 Leave a comment

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I just finished reading “The Dog Went Over the Mountain, Travels with Albie: An American Journey,” by Peter Zheutlin, author of “Rescue Road.’

The book’s premise, which should appeal to just about any dog lover and those who like to travel or wish they could just hit the open road for a few weeks or more, is thus: The author takes his dog, Albie, on a six-week road trip across the U.S.

Zheutlin’s trip is inspired largely by John Steinbeck’s “Travels With Charley,” a book about Steinbeck’s own road trip with his dog, Charley. In fact, Zheutlin takes a very similar route that Steinbeck laid out in his book, only in reverse.

The whole trip is roughly 9,200 miles, as Zheutlin and his four-legged friend travel in a convertible from Massachusetts to California and back again.

I felt like I was along for the ride, as the author described the scenery and people he met along the way, mixing in various song lyrics and bits of historical information.

Zheutlin really concentrated on taking back roads and scenic routes instead of the fastest interstate highways throughout much of his trip. Thus, he was able to stop in many small towns to get a sense of the country and share it with readers. One even happened to be the very small town of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, which is where I went to college.

Albie, plays the part of spokesdog, well on the trip, often helping Zheutlin break the ice with others who come up to pet Albie or ask questions about him.

And, in one especially sweet moment in the book, the author describes Albie’s reaction to Gibbon Falls in Yellowstone:

“To my surprise he stopped, put his front paws on the stone wall and stared down at the falls. His nose twitched, his tail wagged and he seemed to be smiling. I squatted down and put my left arm around his ruff…As I did, my head was against his and for several minutes we remained like that watching the water tumble over the rocks and letting the fine mist settle over us. And I spoke to him as I might have to my sons when they were little. ‘Isn’t that beautiful, Albie? What do you think?’

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to others as a nice, relaxing and informative read. Maybe, at some point, I will have the freedom/time/money for my own cross country adventure with a dog or two by my side. For now, though, I kind of appreciated letting Zheutlin take the wheel.

Why you should always secure your dog during any drive

September 11, 2019September 6, 2020bullingtonb2013 1 Comment

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We came across a press release from https://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com/ which stated that one of the most common reasons people get their car insurance cancelled is because they don’t secure their pets.

“Drivers should ensure that the pets are properly secured in their places,” relates the release. “Drivers that get involved in car accidents without having their pets secured will get their policies voided.”

Well, this got us to thinking about the many, many times we have seen people driving with dogs who are clearly not secured and are either hanging their heads out of the window of the car or are in the back of a pickup truck (a practice which always makes us wince as we have heard from veterinarians who have treated many a dog who has decided to jump out of the back of a moving truck and sustained serious injuries even though the owner thought their dog would never do such a thing.)

We had never really considered the insurance risks, but it definitely makes sense, especially in light of the research we did.

First, driving with a dog can take the driver’s attention away from the road. According to a survey sponsored by AAA and Kurgo Pet Products, 29 percent of respondents admit to being distracted by their dog while driving. AAA also reported that “a pet restraint system can aid in limiting distractions and help protect your pet.”

Second, in some states, it’s already the law.

In Connecticut, for example, dogs being transported in an open truck bed must be in a crate or cage, or otherwise secured. Connecticut doesn’t yet have a law requiring dogs to be restrained while inside a vehicle but drivers may be charged under existing distracted driving laws if they drive with a pet in their lap, according to news.orvis.com.

Dogs being transported in an open truck bed must be in a crate or cage, or must be secured to prevent them from falling, jumping, or being thrown from the vehicle.

To check whether restraining a pet in the car in a requirement in a particular state, you can go to this site: https://news.orvis.com/dogs/does-your-state-require-dogs-be-harnessed-in-the-car

Third, dogs (and other animals) that aren’t secured can be injured in the event of an accident or even cause injury to others. According to The Puppy Traffic School, If unrestrained, a 10-pound dog will exert about 500 pounds of force in a collision at 30 MPH. An 80-pound dog will exert around 2,400 pounds of force under the same conditions.”

For these, and other reasons as well, including dogs who stick their heads out of windows can end up with painful debris in their eyes, securing dogs with a safety harness designed specifically for car travel or in a crate seems like a very good idea.

For more information, check out this video from AAA and Kurgo below: