You pet, it works!

Mona

When Karn Singh decided to go camping at Prashar Lake, near Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, last summer, there was no way he was leaving his best buddies behind. Karn carefully lined the sides of his SUV with cotton sheets, turned the rear seat into a fluffy couch for his St Bernard, Elsa, while the German Shepherd, Maverick, took the front seat with a rucksack acting as a partition between the master and the pet.

Long journey done, they shared the tent and enjoyed the meals.  “It was fantabulous,” shares Karn. However, all this comes with careful planning. “I love mountains, and so do Elsa and Maverick. While Elsa loves to snooze through the travel, it’s Maverick who plays a perfect co-pilot, keeping a watch during late night travels if I look tired or sleepy and cautioning me well in time.” Trips with pups don’t come easy.

It’s a tough job

“You bet travelling with cats is tougher,” vouches Dr Nirja Chawla. She recalls how once during travel she had Eena and Meena, her domesticated cats, one on her shoulder and the other in her lap, as frantic fellow drivers looked at her in amazement. Traffic came to a complete standstill! But that was for a visit to the vet; ever since the doctor comes home, life has been easier for her!

Things are different with Leo though. This black Labrador is doted on and his favourite things are carried along when he travels. Leo, like many others of his tribe, loves to put his head out!  But her owner is a stickler for discipline, “I had to reason it with him and after some tantrums, he settled well,” shares Dr Nirja, who continues to say soothing words as distances get Leo worked up.

Part of the family 

The scene is no different for Muffin, as she takes off to Ludhiana every summer. “Muffin is a spoilt brat. We usually stuff the car with her favourite snacks, take like 20 breaks and constantly speak to her,” reveals Chahat Bhatt Sehgal, the owner. She adds, “Muffin is so silly. Each time we go, she forgets the extended family and there are introductions from a scratch; she gets a room to herself, by the time she gets to know everyone, it’s time to come back.”

Aladin is as famous as his ‘big sister’, actress Sara Gurpal. Her travels are planned around this Shih Tzu’s comfort. She flies Air India for they take good care of her pet. “It’s like travelling with a baby; their food, water, medicines, clothes, toys – every single thing counts.” Aladin is a no-fuss traveller and sleeps through of the journey! For Kadambari, a single child of working parents, four-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Oscar, is a little brother. No wonder, family outing and trips are thoroughly researched and planned, keeping pet-friendly aspects on the top of priority list. While more and more restaurants are opening up to having pets for a meal, she says, “We ensure to carry stuff to dispose doggy waste. The easier we make it for the hosts, more pet friendly places we can have to ourselves.” 

Here are some tips to make pet travel comfortable

• Speak to your vet and carry medicines for their travel sickness.
• Carry your pet’s favourite mat, bowl, toys and snacks.
• Speak to them, sing to them; keep them on board about the journey.
• Never ever leave them alone in the car or unfamiliar place. They worry that you would leave them.
• For carriages in plane, take size twice as big. It would cost more, but ensure your pooch has space to move around.

mona@tribunemail.com