| This is a story about a road trip I took with my | | | | happen to be in the area. The last thing I need |
| dog this summer. This is an informational story | | | | when away from home is to get a citation for an |
| that will provide some insight as to what you | | | | ordinance violation. One bad thing about traveling |
| need to consider when you travel with your pet. | | | | alone with a pet was that when I had to use the |
| My dog's safety while in the car had to be | | | | restroom, I had no choice but to leave Sephi in |
| considered. I needed to know where to make pit | | | | the car for a few minutes. There were signs |
| stops along the way. And I needed to know what | | | | clearly posted at the rest stops prohibiting dogs |
| hotels would allow her to stay. | | | | from entering the buildings so Sephi was not |
| Sephi is my dog's name, short for Persephone. | | | | allowed to go into the restroom with me. |
| Sephi is a 55 pound dog, part German shepherd, | | | | Sephi drank water while a the rest tops but she |
| part Labrador, part chow, part border collie, etc. | | | | did not eat until we got to our destination. This is |
| She loves to ride in the car. I don't generally take | | | | because Sephi tends to get a little car sick if she |
| her with me in the car during the summer unless | | | | has food in her stomach. Our trip was only four |
| it is to the park. But I needed to go to St. Louis | | | | hours long so she did not go hungry for very long. |
| for business. As a female, I don't like to travel | | | | When we reached St Louis we had to find a hotel. |
| alone too far from home. So I decided to take | | | | Knowing by experience that many hotels allow |
| Sephi with me as my "guard dog". It is a four | | | | pets, I did not do any research beforehand. As a |
| hour drive from Kansas City to St Louis, and | | | | result, I visited two other hotels before I found |
| 99% of the trip would be spent on the interstate. | | | | one that both accepted dogs and had wi-fi access. |
| Before leaving, I made sure Sephi's tags were | | | | The hotel we stayed at was the Red Roof Inn. It |
| legible and that they were adequately secured to | | | | was fairly inexpensive and comfortable. I brought |
| her collar. Sephi is not the type of dog to run off, | | | | Sephi's carrier in the room. This gave her the |
| but I'd rather not take any chances. Her tags not | | | | comfort of familiar surroundings, but the carrier |
| only have her name and my phone number, but | | | | was necessary for another reason as well. Most |
| they also have her vet's phone number. The | | | | hotels require that if you have to leave your pet |
| major dog essentials needed for this trip included | | | | alone in the room that the pet be confined. I had |
| Sephi's leash, her dog car seat belt, water and her | | | | business to take care of and I would not be able |
| water bowl, dog food, doggie bags for picking up | | | | to take her with me. So she stayed in her carrier |
| her waste, and her pet carrier (which is also her | | | | while I left the hotel. Hotels have this rule for two |
| doggie bed). Sephi wore her dog car seat belt the | | | | major reasons. First, the hotel does not want |
| entire time she was in the car. The dog seat belt | | | | pets destroying their property. Sephi is not |
| she uses is easy to put on and comfortable for | | | | destructive, but some dogs are so the hotel |
| her to wear. The dog car seat belt is worn like a | | | | makes the rule apply to all dogs. Second, if hotel |
| harness. A strap extends from the back of the | | | | personnel needs to enter the room they don't |
| harness and latches into the seat belt receptacle. | | | | want the pet to escape or to bite the intruder. |
| Whenever Sephi is not in the car, the strap can | | | | Before you travel with your pet, you may want |
| be unhooked and replaced with a leash so that | | | | to find a hotel that allows pets first. Be sure to |
| she doesn't have to have the harness taken on | | | | read their pet policy so that you can make sure |
| and off. | | | | you comply with the guidelines. |
| I brought my own food and snacks or only went | | | | All-in-all, the road trip was a success. I felt safe |
| to places where I could pick up food quick so that | | | | traveling alone with my "guard dog". Sephi was |
| I wouldn't have to leave Sephi in the car. It was | | | | safe wearing her dog car seat belt. She was kept |
| over 90 degrees outside and could get even | | | | hydrated and had plenty of potty breaks at the |
| hotter inside a car. Other pit stops were | | | | rest stops. And she was comfortable during her |
| necessary. Since the drive was mostly on | | | | stay at the hotel. Traveling with a pet does not |
| interstate 70 there were several rest stops along | | | | have to be an inconvenience if you remember |
| the way. These rest stops not only had restroom | | | | certain points. Research hotels and hotel pet |
| facilities for me, but they also had designated pet | | | | policies before traveling. Bring the pet's carrier if |
| areas for Sephi. Most rest stops in the United | | | | you plan on leaving the hotel without your pet. |
| States have designated pet areas. Even though it | | | | Make sure your dog is wearing their tags and |
| was obvious that many pet owners did not pick | | | | bring their leash. Make sure your dog has a vehicle |
| up after their pets, I used the doggie bags to pick | | | | restraint such as a dog car seat belt or a pet car |
| up after Sephi. Not only did I do this as a | | | | seat. Bring something to pick up after your pet. |
| courtesy, but I also did it in order to avoid getting | | | | Bring plenty of water. And last but not least, |
| into trouble with any law enforcement that may | | | | enjoy your trip! |