By Janey M. Rifkin
More than 23 million American families got a pet cat or dog during the pandemic, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. That’s all good except for summer vacation travel – what to do with Bowser and Lovadee?
After travel restrictions for the last two or three summers due to the pandemic, air travel faces cancellations among other glitches. Some airlines restrict family pets from boarding. New high prices and taxes for gasoline somewhat interfere with the joy of motoring our way across the country.
“Remember those nice pet care places we used to hire back in the days before COVID?” asked one of the enthusiastic kids in the family. Unfortunately, the number of pet boarding facilities has not risen and the existing ones have raised their prices (apparently to what the traffic will bear). City places are charging from $50-$1,500 per day for the cost of one week for boarding one pet.
In addition, be sure your dog is up to date on vaccinations and required boosters such as the kennel-cough preventative. Yes, same requirements apply to cats. Looking around for a pet sitter may be just as tough. You are also leaving your sitter with the responsibility for your home for which special insurance may be advised.
“Look here,” said Dad, who then explained that the Hilton Hotels have doubled the numbers of Hiltons receptive to booking families with pets this summer. With big smiles on family faces, it turned out to be a win-win for the feline and canine members as all roads lead to a well-planned summer vacation. Soon the beloved family pets could be seen snuggled up amidst the travel bags and cases on the back seat of the car.
It’s that time of the year – AHOY and ENJOY!
Janey Rifkin is a syndicated writer and longtime Health Editor of the Valley News Group.
