We’ve all heard about the horrors of travelling with your pet, especially if it’s a 10- to 11-hour flight. Travelling from London to Phoenix, Arizona can be excruciatingly long, especially if you’re always thinking about your dogs in the airline cargo.
Instead of worrying about what would happen during the flight, it’s better to prepare everything that your dog would need to make the travel less dreadful. If you’re travelling from London to Phoenix with your dog, we’ve got a small list of things that you should prepare in advance.
Vet Checkup
Before you proceed with your travel, your dogs have to be checked by a licensed veterinarian. Your dogs have to be physically and mentally healthy before you bring them on a long flight.
Also, a travel health certificate is required if you’re going outside the country. Be sure to get a health certificate for your dog and bring two copies with you. Leave a copy for your boarding documents and tape the other copy to the dog carrier.
Prioritize your Pet Documents
Travelling to the United States from London is a breeze because it’s not on the list of High-Risk countries when it comes to rabies. If you’ve never travelled with your dog to a high-risk country in the past six months, you can enter the United States without presenting rabies vaccination documents.
However, you’ll need to provide a written statement that your dog did not visit any high-risk countries in the past six months.
You’ll have to prepare a few things if you are coming back from Phoenix:
- Your dog needs to be microchipped
- You need to present a health certificate
- Present your dog’s vaccination record
- Show them your dog’s tapeworm treatment
For other documents, reach out to the airlines and make sure that you don’t book your tickets online. Go to the airport and ask directly about their requirements for dogs.
Get a Crate and Train your Dogs
Buy a dog carrier that is big enough for your dogs to move around. Their movement should not be completely restricted. You need to write your personal contact information and place it in the carrier.
Training your dogs would be time-consuming since they have to be accustomed to the dog carrier before the flight. Place your dogs in the carrier for a few minutes to start. Increase the time until they can stay inside the carrier the whole night without being agitated.
Ensure that your dogs can stay inside the dog carrier for at least 12 to 13 hours. You’ll have to factor in possible flight delays.
Book a Pet-Friendly Hotel
For tourists, a pet-friendly hotel is a must so if you’re going to Phoenix, you can try booking a room at Hyatt Place. Is Hyatt place pet friendly and is it close to shopping areas and restaurants? It’s a big YES! It’s the perfect place to stay if you plan to go around Phoenix as all the other establishments are within reach.
Prepare their Food and Water
It’s a long flight so your dogs need to have food and water while they are inside the dog carrier. Small dogs usually stay with you in the cabin so make sure that you don’t give them food five hours before your flight.
Giving them a small amount of water would suffice since bathroom breaks would be very difficult once you’re inside the airport.
For dogs that are staying in the cargo, make sure that they have enough food and water inside the crate. Place a serving of food outside your dog carrier so the flight attendants can use it when there’s a flight delay.
Keep your Dogs Busy with Toys
Small dogs can be carried with you in the cabin, but you have the responsibility of keeping them busy during the flight. Bringing a few toys with you will keep them distracted.
Some of them will doze off or nap during the travel but don’t get your hopes high. Always bring toys just in case they stay awake the whole trip.
Final Thoughts
Travelling with your dog requires ample preparation, especially if it’s an 11-hour flight from London to Phoenix. As long as you prepared all the necessary documents, created your itinerary, and booked a pet-friendly hotel in Phoenix, you’ll surely enjoy your much-needed vacation with your four-legged best friend.
Article Supplied