It was a hot sunny morning in 1981. I had just boarded my United Airlines flight to San Francisco to compete in a National English Setter competition. As I anxiously waited in my seat to see them load my dog, to my horror, the aircraft cabin door closed and the plane began to push back from the gate. I panicked. Did my dog get on?
I tried to stay quiet for a minute as the flight attendant began her routine, but my emotions got the better of me and I found myself suddenly standing up – to the crew’s great frustration – "Wait! I see my dog on the cart. She’s not on the aircraft! Stop the plane!" The flight attendant requested sternly that I take my seat, but I would not relent. Finally, after my continuous ranting, the flight attendant phoned the pilot and the plane came back to the gate to retrieve my dog.
Aboard another flight in the early nineties, my puppy Magic was ruined for a show by a ramp agent who dropped her off of a bag belt and cracked her dog crate. When she was brought to me, her crate and door were in two pieces. She was shaking and frightened, so much so that she was no longer able to travel and participate in shows. I was devastated.
Over the past 30 years, I have been traveling across the country with my show dogs, both competing myself and working as an AKC judge. Although these two experiences were the worst encounters I’ve had, during much of that time, I was never quite able to shake the fear and stress I experienced every time I traveled with my dogs. Judging by the statistics, I wasn’t alone in my concern. A TripAdvisor survey this fall found that although millions of Americans travel with their pets each year, the biggest anxiety they share is the stress of flying with a pet. As any dog owner knows, pets, like children and adults, can experience motion sickness, dehydration or extreme anxiety while flying.
It wasn’t until I accepted a job with Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines in 2002 that I began to understand the issue of pet travel from the inside out, and learned that with all the advances over recent years, air travel today is no less safe for pets than it is for human beings.
Of course, there is always room for improvement, and as a seasoned traveler, I had my own strong opinions on changes that could be made to improve the state of air travel for animals. For example, why should pets be treated as cargo? Had anyone considered what the experience was like for a pet to travel under the cabin? Was the temperature comfortable and safe? How did the engine noise affect the pets? And what could be done to increase the peace of mind of each of the pet owners on board?
In asking the tough questions, what I realized was that the best way to make the industry improve was to lead the charge myself. And so I founded the Premier Pet Program, a frequent-flyer program that not only rewards owners for traveling with their pets, but focuses on the comfort and safety of each of the pets transported by Midwest Airlines each year.
My goal with the program was to take the fear out of flying with a pet and to send the message that we welcome your pets with open arms. I don’t think it should be unrealistic for pet owners to be able to relax and breathe easy while flying, knowing that their pets are being cared for by professional, trained staff who understand that pets are not cargo.
For example, at Midwest Airlines we take steps to ensure the comfort and safety of pets in flight. When transporting pets on and off the aircraft, our handlers are trained in the proper way to lift and stow a pet kennel, as well as how to observe animal behavior and spot problems in advance. Once the pet is safely on board, each pet owner receives a "peace of mind" certificate confirming his well-being and that he or she is safely secured below the cabin and ready for take-off. Pets flying from certain destinations receive a travel kit containing my personal picks for "must haves" people tend to forget while traveling: dog shampoo and conditioner, bottled water and snacks, chew toys and other treats. Finally, pets are always the last ones to be boarded and the first ones off the aircraft.
While not every airline offers a dedicated program for safe pet travel, I encourage you not to let this stop you from traveling with your dog. A few handy tips I’ve compiled over the years may help you make the experience less stressful for you and your dog:
- Be sure to research the airline’s pet policies and ask questions like: Where does my dog travel on the aircraft? Is it temperature-controlled and pressurized? How many dogs or cats travel per aircraft? When do they load the pets onto the aircraft? Are they held and supervised in a temperature-controlled room before they are taken out to the aircraft and loaded? What is the procedure if the flight becomes delayed? Do they bring the pet to the owner until the flight is rescheduled?
- Purchase your pet carrier at least a month in advance and acclimate your pet to it a few weeks before the trip so that he is comfortable in his surroundings. The day of your departure is not a good time to introduce him to his new carrier.
- Bring comforting items in the pet carrier to calm him during the trip. These include a chew toy such as a NylaBone and a piece of your clothing that has your scent.
- I do not recommend tranquilizing your pet; at high altitudes; tranquilizers can make your dog air sick, which could cause him to vomit and suffocate. Cotton balls in his ears can muffle sound and help with anxiety and changes in cabin pressure, as can chewing the toys you’ve brought along. Herbal calming remedies for pets can be purchased at vitamin stores, but be sure to try these out in advance and observe your dog’s reaction. Another trick I use is to place Vicks mentholated rub on his nostrils. This disguises dogs’ smelling instinct and will relieve some anxiety.
- Always place contact information on your kennel or dog carrier along with your flight date and flight number, and mark the kennel "LIVE ANIMAL" with an indelible-ink pen. Bring along another set of documents with your return information.
- Select a non-stop flight early in the morning or late in the evening if you are traveling to and from a warmer climate. I would recommend driving a couple of hours to an airport that can provide a non-stop flight if necessary.
- Clip a plastic dog bowl for water in the kennel door and take a cooler in your car with about 6 ice cubes in it. When you get to the airport place them in the dish before you leave your car. This way they will keep your dog hydrated for a bit without too much water spilling into his crate.
- Don’t feed your dog a full meal at least 4-6 hours before your flight, but do give them a couple of small biscuits pre-flight. Dogs get motion sickness just like we do. A little something is their stomach should hold off the nausea.
- I keep a backpack that is designated for my dogs, which always includes: Paper towels for clean up; a spare kennel blanket or an old T-shirt with my scent; shredded newspaper if I’m traveling with a young dog and/or anticipate a long flight (accidents happen, and the newspaper will absorb them and help keep your pet cleaner); a travel bowl for food and water; a small bottle of antibacterial cleaner; dog biscuits; a large bottle of water not from the tap (pets become dehydrated during flights just as you and I do); dog food; my dogs’ health certificates; a dog collar, leash, and travel dog tag (put the word "Reward" with your phone number on the dog tag instead of his name); and first-aid items like an antiseptic stick, first-aid tape, benadryl, and vitamins.
- After you board the aircraft and before the doors close, make sure your dog has been loaded onto the aircraft. If you’re unsure, make a point of contacting the flight attendant before they close the aircraft door to verify.
As long as your dog is healthy and prepared for travel, there is no reason that flying should present any danger to him. As an airline industry insider, I can tell you, for example, that over a million pets travel by air each year and only a very small percentage of them suffer injury, loss, or death. (In fact, these precise numbers are now made available to the public on the DOT website.) Most of those who do had pre-existing medical conditions, which is why having your pet checked out by a vet prior to traveling is crucial.
As I continue to travel with my show dogs I feel good about the positive changes that are being made to advance air travel for pets. Still, I remain passionate about continuing to improve this industry for our four-legged family members. While I recognize there is much more to be done, I encourage each and every one of you to explore the joy of bringing your dog with you on your travels, and to ask the tough questions that can make the rest of the industry wake up to this important issue.
Bone Voyage!
Susan Kerwin-Hagen, Midwest Airlines Premier Pet Coordinator, was recently awarded the 2006 "Women of Influence Award" from the Milwaukee Business Journal for her innovation and initiative in spearheading the Midwest Airlines Premier Pet Program. A member of three English Setter organizations and a licensed judge with the American Kennel Club, Kerwin-Hagen owns several champion English Setters, including Premier Pet Program mascot "Jet-Set Julie." Julie was honored as the "Best of Breed" at the 1991 English Setter National Specialty competition in Chicago, surpassing more than 900 other dogs, and frequently makes public appearances in her role as Midwest Airlines mascot.
