My dog's name is Marty McFly.
There are a few things people should know about Marty if you are ever going to
hang out with him. He has bad breath but is generous with his kisses. He
doesn't like being picked up under his arms and he'll let you know if you cross
that line. He always wants to snuggle and will get his white hair all over your
clothes. If you're in “his seat” he'll make sure that you make room for him but
ever so subtly. He also thoroughly enjoys going places but doesn't like being
places other than his own home.
This last tidbit is always an
interesting combination. Marty gets excited and jumps around like a madman when
he realizes that there's even a slim chance of a possibility of a trip. When
he's in his own home confines he's more than ready to strap on that leash and
hit the road. When he's on the road – he sleeps for the most part. He'll
occasionally stand on the arm rest and leave some wet nose prints on the
window.
However, there's usually a hiccup
whenever he gets wherever I'm taking him. You see Marty prefers his home turf
where there is no possibility of a cat being around (I'm allergic). If there is
a feline to be encountered in the place that we are visiting – forget it. He
transforms into a shivering 17 pound ball of scaredy dog. We've worked with him
– tried several different methods of counter conditioning and positive
reinforcements but through the years I have learned it's simply easier to not
take him anywhere near cats.
As a pet owner, being aware of
things like Marty's feline phobia helps me to navigate life with a happier pet.
As a modern American, travel is a part of my regular lifestyle. Which means
that it's also a part of Marty's regular lifestyle. Whenever we hit the open
road there are a few things that I need to ensure prior to setting out. Safety
is foremost while comfort is also important.
You may think it pretentious of
him but Marty has his own booster seat for car travel. It straps to the seat
using the seat belt and then I can strap him to the booster seat itself using
his harness. So not only does he get to ride on a cushioned fleece throne, he
can also see out of the window. Most importantly, he is more secure than if he
were free roaming in case of a jolting stop or car accident. Many people travel
safely with pets in pet carriers. A hard sided carrier or even a metal cage may
help contain Fluffy in case of a car accident.
There are several other factors
in play when I travel with Marty. Firstly, he is kept up to date with his
immunizations which drastically decreases the likelihood of picking up many
infections from strange dogs that he may encounter. Secondly, he is always up
to date with his monthly flea, tick and heartworm control. This helps keep him
parasite free whenever we make rest stops or visit new places. And thirdly, he
is microchipped and wears a collar with his most current license and rabies
tag. He also has a separate tag that has his name and my contact number listed.
These things give me the peace of mind that if he were to get loose while we
are out and about there's a better chance of getting him home safely.
Some pets require sedation for
safest travel – especially for plane trips or cross country travel. See your
veterinarian if you think this is the case for your pet. If you plan on taking
your pet with you to travel internationally (yes, Canada
So even if you have your own homebody
pet like my Marty McFly, eventually, you may need to take him places. When you
do set out with your pet in tow it is important to keep things like their
safety and proper identification in mind. If your pet has an anxiety trigger
like Marty has his irrational fear of cats – be aware and avoid those
situations as much as possible.
Marty is a wonderful little
traveling companion, and maybe there's a lesson to be learned from him –
sometimes in life it's more about the journey than the destination. And as long
as I continue to factor his needs into our trip, I know that it will be a great
journey for us both.
By Dr. Marisa Tong
No comments:
Post a Comment