Face it, pets and travel don』t mix。 The logistics of taking a pet on a trip can get very complex very quickly。 First of all there are the legal complications。 Earlier last year Johnny Depp was accused of smuggling (偷運) his dogs past Australian quarantine (檢疫), for which his wife, Amber Heard, stood trial in April 2016。 But even on domestic trips not all airlines are happy to accommodate our furry friends。 Pet friendly hotels, too, can be in short supply。 For business travelers the addition of meetings where animals (except guidedogs) are unlikely to be welcome means that the question of whether one should travel with his pet is a no-brainer-whether it『s with family, friends or hired pet-sitters, the pet stays at home。
For some animal (usually dog) lovers this can be a wrench。 It is a shame as well。 From Dick Whittington『s cat to Laika, the dog who orbited the Earth before mankind, animals have proven to be faithful travelers。 Some road warriors might benefit from the stress relief and companionship that a pet can bring on those long, lonely travels away from home。
So animal loving jet-setters will be pleased to read that things are getting better for those wanting to travel with four-legged friends。 There are a growing number of services designed to make traveling with dogs easier。 One such service is Bring Fido, a website and app that lists suitable accommodation in locations that users plan to visit。 The site also helps with pet friendly airlines and provides advice or booking services for restaurants and the like。
It seems airlines and hotels are responding to demand。 New hotels opened by both chains and boutiques are emphasizing their pet friendliness。 Some offer dedicated treats such as doggy room-service, although animals can come with a high surcharge (附加費)。
In most cases the pool will still be off limits for pets。 But one place where a quick dip isn』t off limits is the $32million pet terminal (航站樓) in development at JFK airport in New York。 The facility, which is designed to cater to up to 70,000 pets a year, will boast private rooms, play areas and, yes, a pool。
For those who hesitate to take their pets, airlines can provide their own。 United Paws, a United Airlines initiative, provides comfort dogs to soothe stressed out travelers in terminals。 It is expanding its program over the Christmas period in recognition of how worrying seasonal travel can be。