Chapter 10
TRAVELING TAILS
(Reservations for Rover)
It was late, and I was weary of reading the contract my publisher had sent to my agent for me to review and sign. I was so happy that someone actually wanted to publish my book, I would have signed it without reading it, but she cautioned me not to do this. I decided nothing would happen to me or my publishing contract if I waited until morning, so I placed it on the floor beside my bed then turned off the light.
Sadie jumped off the bed, showing sudden interest to the document on the floor. She began sniffing and pawing it and pushed it around until all six pages were separated and under her paws. Then she sat on it and looked at me. Suddenly it dawned on me; this contract didn’t say anything about Sadie going along with me on the book tour, and without Sadie there would not have been a book. However, the only trip I’d taken Sadie on was a disaster, with her throwing up in my Mercedes before we were twenty miles from home. So while I realized that she needed to be part of our book publicity, I knew nothing about traveling with a dog.
Before Sadie, I confess when I looked at vacation rentals I intentionally skipped over all the ones with paw prints, designating that dogs were welcome. It’s hard for me to admit, but back then I never gave a thought to traveling with a dog, and now here I was trying to figure out how I could get my publisher to allow my dog to go with me to who knew where! I knew my town had certain rules and regulations governing Sadie’s behavior, but what about other cities? How would I know what we could and could not do in New York or Pittsburgh? And did decent hotels really allow dogs to stay with you, or did they have to stay in a kennel down in the lower levels of the hotel?
If I couldn’t stay in a hotel with Sadie that had room service, how would I be able to get my meals? Would Sadie be allowed in a taxi? Would I be able to take Sadie into stores or have to miss out on all the great shopping in the cities where book signings were scheduled? Of all the questions, what troubled me the most was worrying about the consequences for both of us if we happened to run afoul of the law in a strange city. What if I ended up in jail and Sadie in the pound for doing something we didn’t know was illegal? There was no way I would let that happen, so I did some research. Every pet parent must know the laws of their travel destination: the rights they have in public spaces with their dog; what liability, if any, hotels, cities, and transportation systems (taxis and airlines) have if your dog is harmed; and what to do if you’re in a strange city and become tangled in a legal nightmare.
As I traveled with my dog, the first thing I quickly learned was that not all accommodations that allow dogs are equal. Some of the terms that hotels and other establishments use to denote that dogs are allowed include: pet friendly, pets welcome, and pets allowed. (I haven’t seen “pets tolerated,” but I have experienced it!) There is a world of difference from place to place of what pet friendly actually means, and it has nothing to do with the words chosen to note it. You need to know the rules of your hotel in order to avoid any unforeseen legal charges for damages or other things.
You would think that a hotel or resort that touts itself as pet friendly would be just that and your dog would be treated kindly, perhaps receive a welcome treat, and be permitted to accompany you in most areas of the property. Sadly, this isn’t true. I’ve arrived at pet-friendly hotels to be greeted rudely by desk clerks who clearly don’t care for dogs. They have tried to shove me and Sadie off to a room other than the one in our reservation confirmation, telling me that only certain rooms allow dogs. That is not what their website or corporate advertising touted.
In cases like this you have a legal right to stand your ground unless this stipulation was clearly stated in their advertisement and is in equal-sized print as everything else on your confirmation. Ask to see the manager and be firm that you want the room you reserved. If it’s a national chain, call the 800 number, particularly if you are a member of a rewards program for that hotel, and get them to intervene for you. You create a contract with the hotel corporation when you make a reservation. The hotel makes an offer (their advertisement and all amenities, including pets allowed). You accepted this offer when you made your reservation and gave good consideration (your deposit). The hotel is obligated under contractual law to provide what you contracted for (room and conditions offered). Offer plus acceptance equals contract. Any first-year law student, business person, home buyer, or just about any adult person knows this, but sometimes hotel management gets a case of amnesia.
Hotels that claim to welcome dogs often have the most ungracious, ridiculous, and sometimes plain unacceptable rules for dogs once you get there. Again, unless this was clearly advertised and you accepted it, you are not bound to it. These restrictions range from not allowing dogs in any common areas of the hotel or resort, specific entrances for dogs, and certain eviction if your dog barks. If you’re reprimanded for breaking any of these rules, ask where this is on the corporate website and where you agreed to these terms. Again, if this is not on their website or reservation form, be polite but firm that you did not agree to this.
I realize there is a valid concern and there are questions about what you do if they refuse to follow the reservation confirmation or drop the silly rules that were never disclosed. Sadly, there are only two choices as you stand there with Rover and your luggage: you can stay or you can go. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. If there are no other accommodations nearby that accept dogs and you’re tired from driving a long distance, you most likely will have to stay. If you’ve done everything suggested above, make sure to lodge your complaint with the hotel reservation center and speak to the on-site hotel manager so a claim down the road can’t be met with the, “You should have said something,” defense. Before leaving, insist that it be put in writing why you left and that your deposit be refunded.
Now if your Rover is a big rottweiler or similar breed, you might get the deposit back rather quickly. Even if you have a barking rat terrier in your arms, I’m betting the deposit refund will be handed over right away. However, many times they will refuse. In this case get it in writing why they refused your refund. You can use this later when you write a letter to the corporation customer service department demanding your deposit back and a certificate for a free night in the future or enough hotel points for a free weekend or whatever you feel you deserve. Take a photo of any signs at the front desk and lobby that say anything or nothing about dogs. This will be valuable when you make a claim with the hotel.
One blatant indication that a hotel is truly not pet friendly is the size of the deposit they require, and these deposits are almost always unilaterally nonrefundable. If the deposit for your dog is more than the cost of your room, this hotel clearly is not pet friendly. I encountered this at a Wyndham property in Georgia on our book tour. It cost fifty dollars more than my room fee for Sadie to stay there; the room fee was one hundred and fifty dollars, and Sadie’s fee was two hundred dollars. I had to be in that area for a book signing and a television appearance, so my publisher paid it. Had it been just me and Sadie, I would never have paid it. Unfortunately, unlike usury laws that don’t allow unreasonable interest to be charged, hotel pet fees clearly are not covered by any law yet.
Again, I go back to the pets-are-personal-property designation in our country. Would a hotel charge me extra for an unusual amount of luggage? And what do they clean that room with that actually costs two hundred dollars? The truth is, nothing. I’ve asked in many different hotels how a room that a dog had occupied was cleaned differently. The answers went from, “Not at all,” to showing us various bottles of spray cleaners, but no one told us anything that would amount anywhere near the fee most hotels charge. Not one hotel said they used a special machine to fumigate the room, clean the carpets, or anything else after a dog was a guest.
The earliest chain of hotels to welcome dogs universally was the Motel Six chain; they still welcome dogs and don’t charge a fee. There’s an urban rumor out in the dog world that Omni Hotels only became pet friendly after Oprah Winfrey threatened to leave when they said her cocker spaniels couldn’t stay with her. I do know from personal experience that Omni has treated Sadie like a princess at each of their properties we’ve stayed at. La Quinta, a family- and dog-friendly chain, has no restrictions on the size of your dog, and they also don’t charge a fee. I discovered La Quinta after a most ridiculous incident I encountered while traveling with Sadie.
Our publisher had made a reservation for us in Raleigh, North Carolina, at a hotel that’s part of the Marriott Corporation. We checked in, no problem, until we were walking away from the desk. The clerk said, “Miss Lawson, you can’t bring your dog in the front door, and she’s not allowed in the elevator.” I looked at the various signs behind and on the front desk and carefully reviewed the handful of papers I’d just signed. Not one word about this anywhere. So I asked, “Why?”
Clearly confused, she said she’d have to get the manager. A few minutes later, a man appeared in a corporate logo golf shirt and she told him I wanted to know why dogs weren’t allowed in the front door or the elevator. He told me it was corporate policy. I asked where this corporate policy was noted on the website or my reservation. He began to stutter and said, “I mean, it’s our policy here, and you should’ve been given an agreement to sign before you got your key.”
He reached behind the desk and handed me a document and began tapping a pen on the counter, waiting for my signature. He tapped. I read. I looked at Sadie. He handed me the pen and I told him I wouldn’t be signing it.
At the time, I had my right arm in a sling recovering from a dislocated elbow, a large wheeled duffel bag with enough clothes and shoes for two weeks, Sadie’s luggage, and our cooler with food. I asked the manager how I was to get all this to the third floor. He said I could take Sadie up the stairs, then come back and take my things in the elevator. I asked him how I was going to do this since one of their rules was that you couldn’t leave your dog alone in the room. He had no answer. I asked him what the purpose of this rule accomplished and he told me it was to protect people who were allergic to dogs, as they only allow service dogs in the elevator.
Really? “If you’re allergic to dogs, wouldn’t you also be allergic to service dogs?” I asked him.
He had no answer for me on that one either and didn’t offer to help with my luggage, but he did agree to return my money. So we went out the front door and down the street and were warmly welcomed at a lovely La Quinta that asked no questions, had no restrictions, provided us a lovely suite, a place for Sadie to play outside, and even allowed her to eat breakfast with me.
Stonewall Resort in West Virginia has a clause in the pet agreement you’re required to sign stating that if any other guest complains about your dog you will be asked to leave with no refund. Make sure you read everything you sign in a hotel agreement that is presented to you when you arrive. More often than not these may be contrary to what you read on the hotel website.
If you don’t see a pet policy on a hotel’s website, don’t despair. Often hotels will allow dogs if you ask. I’ve stayed at several hotels with Sadie that didn’t advertise they allowed dogs, but when I called and explained my situation they agreed to welcome her, and it wasn’t reluctantly. Each hotel did charge a reasonable fee, but they were congenial to both me and my canine companion.
Every state, county, town, city, or municipality has ordinances that govern the behavior of dogs. Earlier we covered some of those ordinances that are for residents and property owners. However, even if you are a visitor, just like traffic laws, you must obey the local laws that govern dog behavior. If in doubt, do some research before you go or ask a knowledgeable source in the area you will be visiting. A hotel concierge, a local chamber of commerce website, the town website, and dog travel websites are all great sources for this information.
The most prevalent dog law in the United States is the leash law. I don’t know of any city in the United States where it’s legal to let your dog run free. Some dog parks have leash-free areas, and some cities and public parks have an “under your voice control” provision. It’s important to check the area you’re in so you don’t inadvertently break any law. Keep in mind that dog bite laws are much stricter for dogs that are running at large, so despite how well your dog listens to your voice, I would never allow my dog off her leash in a strange city.
One of the great American dog writers, Ted Kerasote, bemoans the American leash laws for dogs in his book Pukka’s Promise. He believes they prohibit dogs from being dogs. Kerasote’s book explores diverse methods of extending the lives of dogs, and he believes one way is to let dogs have more free running time. In general, he believes if we go back to the basics, when dogs had more freedom, they got more exercise and were healthier because they were reveling in their natural instinct, just being dogs.
He points out how other countries have successfully managed “city dogs,” those lovable street mongrels that run throughout cities all over the world. For example, in Western Europe there are free-roaming dogs in most major cities without causing a crisis. There’s no attempt made to corral or contain dogs, and the cities manage quite well. Kerasote’s belief that dogs require running free much more than urban restrictions permit is probably correct, but leash laws are usually strictly enforced. Leash laws curtail dog bites to some extent and also protect dogs from becoming hurt in traffic, getting lost in a strange city, and other dangers.
Certain areas have leash laws on a restricted basis. For example, some United States beaches now have an area they call a “dog beach.” In these designated areas dogs are allowed to run leash free. Of course owners are responsible for their dog, and the entity that governs the beach usually assumes no liability for injury to your dog. You could still be held liable if your dog caused injury to another dog or property on the beach.
On the BringFido website (www.bringfido.com) you can search for pet-friendly accommodations, attractions, beaches, hiking trails, restaurants, tours, events, and more around the world. In addition, the site provides local beach laws for some beaches. However, it’s still necessary for you to check the beach restrictions for dogs. These can most likely be found on the website for any pet-friendly vacation rental company near your destination beach, the town’s website where the beach is located, or on signs posted on the beach. Many beaches impose strict and often large fines for breaking their rules. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
For example, at Caswell Beach on Oak Island, North Carolina, you’ll be fined one hundred dollars if you or your dog walk over the dunes, twenty-five dollars if you don’t carry a waste bag and pick up after your dog, and twenty-five dollars if your dog isn’t on a leash. Yet on Carmel Beach in California, dogs don’t have to be on a leash at any time, and you can even build a fire on the beach if you want to cook a hot dog for you and your dog to enjoy!
Below are some of the common restrictions for dogs on beaches.
• Time of day. Many beaches do not allow dogs on the beach during warm months (May or June to September in most areas) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is to protect the dog from heatstroke and other heat-related health problems.
• Picking up after your dog. Waste disposal bags are usually located at beach entrance areas.
• Leash restrictions. Some beaches only allow dogs off-leash during certain time periods, other beaches never allow it, and some allow it all the time.
• The number of dogs one person may have on the beach, usually one dog per adult.
• Aggressive breeds are often banned even in places without breed-specific legislation.
• Leaving dogs unattended.
• Requiring a collar with current tags, including ID and rabies.
• Age restrictions, which usually pertain to banning dogs under six months old.
• Female dogs in heat are not permitted on most beaches.
• Having an adequate supply of water with you for your dog.
• No spiked collars on dogs.
• Rules change depending on the time of year. They’re generally more lenient from September to the end of May and stricter from June until August in many states.
• Some beaches require permits, which include paying a fee. Dewey Beach in Delaware charges ten dollars for an eight-day pass and five dollars for a weekend. Residents can buy a lifetime pass for their dog for thirty-five dollars. Check ahead so you’ll be in compliance with any local fees.
As expected, there are the unusual, funny, and interesting local beach laws for dogs. Long Beach, California, has a city ordinance that regulates the behavior of children on the beach and how they treat dogs. The City Code of Long Beach,37 which covers the designated beach area where dogs are permitted, states: “Children shall be accompanied by an adult and shall not run, shout, scream, wave their arms, or otherwise excite or antagonize dogs.” Pet parents might have a difficult decision whether to take the dog or their child to the beach!
At Laguna Beach Dog Park in California, professional dog training is not allowed on the beach, and you aren’t permitted to have a picnic on the beach. Maybe not a silly rule after all, as it prevents dogs from crashing picnics or disrupting your picnic with begging! At Clearwater Beach in Florida you’re not permitted to bathe your dog in any public beach or swimming area with soap.
Cape San Blas, Florida, is known as one of the friendliest dog beaches in the state. Dogs are allowed on the beach at any time of the year, any time of the day, and there are no leash requirements. Additionally, nearby Apalachicola Sailing Adventures offers sailing trips up and down the coast that your dog is welcome aboard. To make it even more attractive to pet parents, there are nine pet-friendly restaurants in the area. They post a list of good-dog-etiquette rules with one that is quite amusing: “Do not let your dog visit with other beachgoers or dogs unless welcomed (meaning, talk to those around you).” There are no size or breed limitations, and most rental agencies in the area are equally pet liberal.
Know the law at your destination before you leave. Beach laws differ not only from state to state, but from beach to beach within the same state. Most beaches have their rules and any city ordinances posted, but you can’t count on that.
Besides leash laws, there are certain other local laws that are common in most cities and only require a little bit of common sense. In addition to leash laws, dog owners are universally required to pick up their dog’s waste. Most metropolitan areas have imposed fines if you don’t pick up after your dog in a public place. However, many cities also have legislation that applies to private property as well because of its impact on the environment. Most parks and cities have containers with waste bags, but to be safe pet parents should always have their own supply.
In 2013, New York City decided not to replace the faded and aging signs advising dog owners to pick up after their dogs. Nonetheless, you’ll be fined two hundred and fifty dollars if you’re caught not picking up your dog’s poop. The Center for Watershed Protection refers to errant dog parents who don’t pick up poop as “bad dog walkers.” Their research claims there are sixteen million such dog owners in the United States. Fairfax County, Virginia, also has a two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar fine, and in Dallas, Texas, it’s a Class C felony and a five-hundred-dollar fine.
In England they call it “dog fouling,” and the penalties are huge. In Rochdale Borough the council set a maximum fine at one thousand pounds, which is about eighteen hundred US dollars. The borough’s website has a Dog Fouling Card you can download to report culprits. In Paris, the Incivility Brigade will fine you the equivalent of fifty dollars if they catch you. Even though it’s been illegal in Paris not to pick up after your dog since 1982, Parisians seem to think it’s the job of the street cleaners and the law is largely ignored. Don’t let your travels be marred with a fine for something a responsible pet parent should always do. A local person might be able to get away with something that you as a visitor will be penalized for. Know the laws and follow them. Who knows, with today’s cell phones and surveillance cameras, you can never be sure who might be watching or reporting you.
Dogs are unpredictable, and you really never know when the need to go will strike them. My dog Sadie embarrassed me at a swanky hotel in Washington, DC. I stopped at a roadside rest area before we got into the city and took Sadie for a bathroom walk. She obediently fulfilled her duties and I was quite relieved to have this over with before getting to the hotel. We pulled up in front of the Mayflower Hotel and were greeted by the uniformed doormen. One of the doormen opened my door and I went around getting Sadie out. She jumped to the sidewalk, and as I was watching them get the luggage out of the trunk, Sadie stretched to the end of her leash and decided to christen the sidewalk. I couldn’t believe it since she’d just completed this task. I was horrified. The doormen jumped into action with a nifty pooper scooper and a hose and all was well. I guess Sadie was just overwhelmed at the thought of staying in the historic hotel, but I was totally chagrined as I hurried into the lobby avoiding the stares of the other guests.
You can also break the law when traveling by leaving your dog alone in a vehicle. During the summer this situation gets immense media coverage, and sadly many dogs perish. However, the law doesn’t cover just days with high temperatures. Only eighteen states have laws prohibiting leaving a dog unattended in a car.
• Arizona
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
All of the laws start with the base restriction that it’s illegal to leave an animal alone and confined in a parked vehicle. The conditions at the time must be such that the animal’s life would be in danger, which would include either extreme hot or cold temperatures. Additionally, some of the laws spell out what the conditions are, such as what the extreme hot or cold temperatures are, if there is adequate ventilation in the car, and if there is food or water available in the vehicle. Some of the laws are quite indefinite and you could be fined if you’re not aware of the restrictions where you’re traveling.
In most states leaving the car running with the heat or air-conditioning on is not permitted either. I’ve met people who vehemently defend this, saying their dog is comfortable, but what about if the engine quits running? An exception to this law are law enforcement or first responder vehicles, which are equipped with anti-stall devices.
While some of the statutes make this crime only a misdemeanor with a fine, some statutes provide that the dog be impounded and kept until all fines, any expenses for the care of the dog, and the impoundment fees be paid before the dog can be bailed out. This would be traumatizing for your dog and you and most definitely would ruin a trip.
Deciding what to do can be difficult if you’re traveling alone and need to run in somewhere to use the restroom and have no one to leave your dog with. In my own experience, I’ve perhaps used less-than-good behavior when facing this dilemma. I’ve never seen any signs saying it’s a crime or a person will be fined for taking their dog into a roadside rest area bathroom. Yes, signs saying NO PETS are on the doors, but no mention of a fine, nor have I found a restriction in the law against this. I’ve also not seen anything in those bathrooms that a dog could damage. You guessed it, I just take her in with me. We make a quick trip in and back out, and so far, so good. I simply will not leave her alone in the car.
Conversely, many pet parents are met with the dilemma of what to do when they see a dog in a car that’s in danger. Very few pet parents know if it’s legal or not to use any means of force, including breaking a window, to save a dog’s life that’s in a hot car in danger of heatstroke. Of the eighteen states that make it a crime to leave a dog in a vehicle, all of them have provisions for rescue except West Virginia.
Rescues are limited to the use of “reasonable force” to rescue the animal, and most of the statutes only allow specific persons to do so. These generally include police officers, humane officers, fire department employees, or employees of a humane agency. People in these categories are exempt from any criminal or civil liability. However, many jurisdictions even without statutes prohibiting animals in cars have not held members of the general public liable for breaking windows to save the life of a dog in a car. Some of the statutes are ambiguous and use terms such as “volunteer,” which anyone can be. In fact, you can be volunteering to rescue the dog at the time you break the window to get it out. Seriously, though, call 911 immediately, and if the dog is in obvious distress, let your conscience be your own dog—what would you want someone to do for her?
Most of us travel by car with our dogs. But what are the legal ramifications for your dog if you’re in a car accident? Does your car insurance cover your dog if she’s injured? What if the accident wasn’t your fault; can you depend on the other driver’s insurance to cover the cost for care of your dog if she’s injured? The answer is generally yes, and this seems to surprise many pet parents. Think back to the prevalent view of dogs in our justice system; they are still considered property. In any accident, personal property that is harmed or lost, such as your automobile or any of the contents, is covered. You can expect no less for your personal property dog.
Dogs are covered under the Property Damage Liability provision in auto insurance policies. Most insurance policies only cover your dog’s injuries if the accident wasn’t your fault. Since all auto policies in the United States specify bodily injury coverage only for humans, this is again another dichotomy of the pet/property designation. It’s fortunate in this situation that your dog is considered property. However, as we’ve seen in other instances, the property designation is problematic.
Some companies, such as Progressive, cover your dog’s injuries even if you caused the accident. Progressive has pet injury coverage regardless of fault under its collision coverage section. This means that if you cause an accident and have coverage through a Progressive policy, a maximum of one thousand dollars is designated to cover injuries to your pet. There’s no extra charge for this coverage. As of the writing of this book, no other insurance company covers pets under the collision portion of an auto policy, but keep in mind that if the other driver caused the accident your dog will be covered under the liability portion of their policy. Knowing this, if you are ever in an accident, get yourself and your dog checked with peace of mind about the expense.
Since May 2005, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) has required all United States airlines that operate scheduled passenger flights to file monthly reports on pets that died or were lost or injured during transport, pursuant to the requirements of Section 710 of the 2000 Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (as subsequently codified at Title 49, Section 41721 of the United States Code and Title 14, Section 234.13 of the Code of Federal Regulations). This report is published on the DOT website, but it’s difficult to find. Even when you do find it, not every animal incident is required to be reported. The following situations are not required in the report the airline submits.
• Animals that are not kept as a pet in a US family household. (Doesn’t include dogs shipped by breeders.)
• Animals that are carried on all-cargo or unscheduled flights. (However, reports are required to be filed for incidents involving animals that are carried as cargo, as opposed to checked baggage, on a scheduled passenger flight.)
• Animals that are carried on a flight operated by a foreign airline, even if the flight carries the code of a US carrier. (However, reports are required to be filed for incidents involving animals on a flight operated by a US carrier between two foreign points, as well as on a flight operated by a US carrier that carries the code of a foreign carrier.)
What does an airline owe you if your dog is injured or dies during a flight? Sadly, the answer is, very little compared to the value your dog has to your life. In 2015, seventeen pets died while traveling in the cargo hold of airlines, according to the US DOT. Considering that approximately two million animals fly in cargo holds each year, that might not seem like many, but what if it were your priceless dog?
Pet parents need to take responsibility for anything that happens to their dog when transporting her in the cargo section. Flying your dog in a cargo hold or a baggage section is inherently dangerous. Sometimes it’s not the airline’s fault: for example, if a dog becomes extremely stressed and dies as a result. Pet parents are often so desperate to get their dog to a different location that they ignore blatant red flags, such as the dog’s age or health condition. Even though your vet must fill out a health certificate for your dog to fly, they can be filled out in haste, ignoring pertinent health issues resulting in the dog’s death.
Flying in cargo is a frightening experience with vastly varying temperatures and air pressure. Unforeseen deaths occur even when the dog is out of the cargo hold. A dog on a United Airlines flight was being walked on the tarmac and got loose. It was hit by a vendor van and died. A show dog heading to the Westminster Kennel Show got free and ran away during a ground transfer. The dog was never found. Pet parents must put the welfare of their dog first, considering even the most remote occurrence before crating her up and putting her in a cargo hold. Certain breeds are not accepted by airlines, such as American, English, or French bulldogs. Pugs and shih tzus, snub-nosed or brachycephalic breeds, are prone to breathing difficulties, which is exacerbated in the cargo hold. Breed-specific legislation has also spread to airlines, with some refusing to transport pit bulls or rottweilers.
Pets travel as personal property the same as your luggage, and airlines have historically only been responsible for the market value of the dog. Unlike your luggage, though, you’re required to have certain health certificates and veterinary medical records for your dog. Often these records have to be certified from your vet within a short time period before the flight. Your dog could be denied access to the flight, even though you’ve already paid the fee, or denied entry at your destination. Make sure you know what is required and have it in the specified time period before your flight. There are three ways your dog can travel on an airline:
• In the cabin. If she can fit in a carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. On today’s airlines you’re lucky if your feet fit there, let alone your dog.
• As excess baggage. This means your dog would be in a lighted, pressurized baggage hold where other fragile items are transported.
• In the cargo hold, which is the worst option.
Just as airlines have liability limits for your lost luggage, they also have liability limits for your dog. Unless you buy extra liability coverage for your dog, if something happens to her, you’d have to accept the airline’s decision as to what it will pay for your loss or her damages if she survived.
International travel is covered by separate rules, and pet parents must check with the individual airline for the details. Liability limits apply to all three forms of travel: in the cabin, as excess baggage, or as cargo. On the back of every airline ticket is a “Notice of Baggage Liability Limitations” that clearly states what the airline will be responsible for. You always have the option of declaring a higher value and paying an additional fee, which I strongly recommended if you are transporting your dog on an airline.
Airlines can’t deny all financial responsibility. The federal government allows them to limit their liability to two thousand eight hundred dollars, and they take advantage of this. In theory, the airline’s position is that you created a “contract” with them. You agree to the liability limit in exchange for an inexpensive rate to ship your dog. This agreement, or contract, exists only in theory, as you don’t have the opportunity to bargain for a price or agree to different terms other than purchasing excess liability coverage. In the hotel reservation contract example, you do have the choice to choose a different rate and other items for your stay, making it an actual contract, unlike the airline ticket.
If your dog’s loss is worth more than two thousand eight hundred dollars, you can take the airline to court. These cases are decided upon a few easy factors. Did you have notice of the limit and did you have an opportunity to declare a higher limit? In most cases, the answer is yes. However, if the notice was not obvious or the circumstances of your purchase did not offer excess coverage for any reason, you have a better chance of winning your case.
Generally, if the liability notice is in print smaller than anything else on the back of the ticket, courts will consider that insufficient notice. It must also be in clear and easy-to-understand language that a reasonable person would understand. Another factor that can be considered is how sophisticated a traveler you are. If you travel a great deal, you’d be expected to know about this provision and the opportunity to purchase extra coverage. If you’re not, then it’s reasonable you didn’t know about it and possibly won’t be held to the limit. The airline’s Contract of Carriage, available at the ticket counter, spells out the terms and costs of the excess coverage. This isn’t a short document and reading it a few minutes before your flight is not a good idea. You can also access it on the airline’s website and become familiar with it while your trip is still in the planning stages.
To get the airline to agree to a higher liability limit, you have to declare that your dog’s value is over the liability limit. The airline will charge you a higher fee, and if anything happens to the dog you’ll be covered for the value you declared. For example, say you are shipping a show dog worth ten thousand dollars as excess baggage and the airline limits its liability to two thousand eight hundred dollars. Before the trip, tell the airline that you want to declare a higher value on the dog. The airline will charge you an extra fee based on the seven thousand two hundred dollars of excess declared value.
Airlines can limit the extra amount you declare to a few thousand dollars. To get coverage above that amount you’ll need to deal with private insurance coverage. Planning well in advance will help avoid any legal snafus should a problem occur.
Once you get to your destination, you may want to travel on public transportation such as taxis, subways, or buses. It’s very common on the Tube in London to see dogs as passengers. I’ve shared my seat with several different breeds of dogs. Almost every metropolitan city has different rules for dogs on public transportation; again, this is a matter pet parents must check ahead of time. Many legal issues can arise when you take your dog on a train or subway. They could become frightened and bite someone or chew the seat and cause damage. It happens. A major airliner made an emergency landing when a service dog decided to “foul the aisle” twice. The owner most likely wasn’t fined or penalized, as it was a service dog and by law permitted on the flight, but you can be held responsible on public transit for any damage your dog might cause.
Almost all cities in the United States allow dogs on public buses, subways, or trains. It’s not like in Europe, though, where you can just climb aboard with Rover on his leash. Most urban transportation systems require the dog be in a carrier that can be held on your lap. That definitely eliminates taking all but dogs twenty pounds and under, which is the weight limit most often imposed. You’d think with approximately 65 percent of American households having at least one pet,38 that one or two cars or rows of seats could be set aside for pet parents and their dogs.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York City follows the above guidelines on all its systems for pets. The Seastreak Ferry system, which provides daily year-round ferry services from Atlantic Highlands and Highlands, New Jersey, to Pier 11/Wall Street, East 35th Street, and shuttle service to the World Financial Center, allows pets on a leash, but they must remain on the outside perimeter of the ferry. That means you have to stay out there with them no matter what the weather conditions. Pets are allowed on all the trips to and from New York City, but not to New Bedford, Massachusetts, or Martha’s Vineyard.
The other option when you need to get around a city with your pet is to use a taxi. If the taxi is owned by the operator, they can make an independent decision whether or not they’ll welcome your dog as a passenger. If it’s a company-owned system, be sure to ask when you call them. I’ve never had any problems taking Sadie in a taxi in New York City, either privately owned or a company cab. They’ve never charged more either. However, we got into some interesting situations in Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
In Philadelphia, I asked the doorman at the Center City hotel we were staying at to please get us a taxi to take us to a radio station about eight miles away. He flagged one down, opened the door, and in we went. I wrote down the cab’s telephone number and the taxi number so I could call them after we were finished with the radio show.
When the company answered the phone, I asked for that driver and, thinking I was doing the right thing, complimented the driver for being so nice to my dog.
“Your dog?” the woman on the phone asked, and I said yes. She rudely said, “We don’t allow dogs in our taxis,” and hung up on me. I had no idea what to do. There I was in four-inch heels in an area I didn’t know very well. Walking back to the hotel was not an option. I knew there was a Saks Fifth Avenue down the street, but how far I couldn’t remember. I’d been in other Saks stores with Sadie and they were always dog friendly, so if nothing else we could hang out there and ponder what to do about our predicament. As I was trying to remember how far it was to Saks, I saw a hotel across the street with eight traffic lanes in between. I was elated, though, because there were taxis coming and going in front of it.
Clutching my heavy travel purse and holding Sadie’s leash tightly I decided to go for it in my formerly fabulous four-inch-heeled shoes. Once we reached the hotel’s front area I spotted a cab sitting to the side with the driver reading the paper. I approached his front passenger door, keeping Sadie’s leash very tightly to my side, hoping he wouldn’t see her and maybe I could just sneak her into the backseat.
I tapped on the window and he looked my way and gestured toward the backseat, which I took as a good sign until Sadie jerked from my grip and stood up placing both paws on the partially opened window. He looked startled for a moment, and I launched into my woeful story of abandonment and how I just had to get back to Center City. He looked from me to Sadie and back to his newspaper, then he put it down and said, “Perro … okay.”
I’m no linguist, but I knew “perro” meant dog and okay was the magic word, so I quickly opened the back door, hustled Sadie in, and collapsed on the seat. I think if he had said no, I would have gone into the hotel and asked for assistance, but other than that I had no plan. I certainly wasn’t going to carry my shoes and drag Sadie back the eight miles to our hotel. Pet parents can get into pretty miserable situations if they don’t check out the local ordinances concerning pets on public transportation before their trip.
Despite Sadie’s transgression at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC, when we came out of the hotel later that night to go to the convention center and prepare for our book signing, we were warmly greeted and she was given a treat. There was a line of cabs picking guests up and the doorman escorted us to one and opened the back door. Just as I was about to let Sadie jump into the back seat the driver got out and said, “No dog.”
The doorman ignored him, continued to hold the door, and gestured to me to put Sadie in, but the driver came to the back door and said, “No dog,” even louder. We were at a standoff for a few seconds until the doorman pounded on the roof of the cab, slammed the back door, and told the driver to get out of the cab line. He said, “This dog is a guest of this hotel, and if you won’t take her in your cab, you’re not taking any other guests. Get out of here and don’t come back.”
The driver got in his cab and left. The doorman blew a whistle, the next cab moved forward, and we got in. We had no other problems with taxis in our nation’s capital.
Ask your hotel about the city cab policy if you plan to take your dog in a taxi. If the city has an ordinance against taking dogs in taxis, you need to know ahead of time. Check the city website before you go so you can prepare for alternate transportation.
So there you are in a great city, with friendly cabs, obeying the leash laws, and picking up after your dog. You did your homework and are in no danger of any fines or problems. Evening comes and you think you’ll just sit at an outdoor café with your dog and enjoy dinner. Sounds good, but make sure it’s legal. Rules governing dogs at public eating establishments are governed by county health departments. Therefore, they can differ from city to city if they are in different counties. The general rule is that dogs are not allowed in areas where food is being prepared. If it’s just being served and it’s outside, it’s usually fine to have Rover at the outdoor restaurant. Like everything legal, though, it gets complicated when you look at all the conditions in different jurisdictions and even within the same city.
Some counties allow dogs to be beside your table as long as they are on the other side of the fenced-in area of the outdoor dining area. This was the case at a popular Washington, DC, restaurant we dined at. It was interesting to learn that the tables lining the perimeter by the fence were the most sought-after seats at the restaurant.
In Los Angeles, California, it’s the opposite. You are allowed to have dogs at outdoor dining areas providing there are no barriers between the patrons and the pedestrians. Their viewpoint is that it’s unreasonable to ban dogs from these types of outdoor cafés if a pedestrian can walk by your table with their dog.
In 2015, a new law went into effect statewide in California that allowed dogs to dine at all outdoor restaurants. Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law, and the California First Dog, a seven-year-old Welsh corgi named Sutter, posted on his Twitter page: “Woof! No more doggie bags! A new law overturning a ban on pets at restaurants.”
The ban on dogs in restaurants is rooted in the Food and Drug Administration food code, which is enforced by local health departments. Local authorities can follow the FDA’s model rules or they can enhance them or allow more leniency. Service dogs are exempt from this ban that prohibits dogs from being in public restaurants and, in fact, makes it a crime to refuse service to anyone with a service dog.
Florida was the first to enact a law explicitly allowing dogs in outdoor areas of restaurants. Sheri McInvale, the former state representative who introduced the legislation, says the biggest opposition to the bill had to do with concerns over dog bites and fights, not health issues. The final bill signed into law contained a provision that restaurants had to carry a minimum level of liability insurance in order to participate in the program.
Around the time our first book was being released, “Yappy Hours” were popular at bars, and Sadie and I were invited to many of them. For these events, people are permitted to bring their dogs with them in the hope that their dog will be attracted to a dog and they will be attracted to the human holding the leash. It never happened for me or Sadie, but it was interesting to watch.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, service dogs are allowed in restaurants except for the kitchen and storage areas. Under this law business owners are not allowed to ask what service the dog provides or for any kind of documentation proving the dog is a service animal. Owners of service dogs are not required to have any form of proof or identification, and therein lies the problem. Many people “fake” that their dogs are service dogs just to get them in places. As a pet parent you should never do this. It makes it difficult for people who depend on service dogs when other dog owners try to take their dogs into places the law prohibits by pretending they are service dogs. Additionally, it’s illegal and you can be fined and even face jail time if you are caught pretending your dog is a service animal when she’s not.
Perhaps the worst place to break a law with your dog is in a foreign country, where everything is unfamiliar and often difficult. The last thing you need is to be in violation of one of their laws trying to bring your dog into their country. All countries have strict requirements for allowing animals from other countries to enter. The United States Department of State website (www.state.gov) is the best place to get information about bringing a dog into this country as well as taking your dog to other countries. The State Department assists hundreds of its employees all over the world as well as other government agencies’ employees working abroad with the transportation of their family pets. The website’s information is always up to date and accurate and is immensely helpful to those traveling or relocating outside the United States.
Another helpful website is Pet Travel (www.pettravel.com/passportnew.cfm). The site has a drop-down menu where you can choose your destination country and get an overview of what’s required for your dog to enter the country.
The State Department has the following instructions for members of the general public traveling outside of the United States with a dog:
• Call the appropriate embassy in Washington, DC, to confirm the entry requirements for the country you are moving to. Some embassies will provide forms printed in English and in the host language for your veterinarian to complete. Some countries do not permit importation or have long quarantine requirements.
• Take a look at the useful list of International Animal Export Regulations compiled by the US Department of Agriculture.
• Check the requirements to see how close to departure the required veterinarian examination, shots, and tests must be scheduled.
• Arrange with your veterinarian for required shots and certificates within the specified time period. (Even though not always required, it is recommended that you include shots for distemper and hepatitis.)
• Pet Travel lists import information for about one hundred countries. (This is an external link for informational purposes only and does not indicate endorsement by the US government of the site, the accuracy of information it contains, or its privacy policies.)39
All but a few foreign countries have a period of time a dog must be quarantined when she arrives. This can range from a few days to several months. The rationale behind a quarantine period is to observe the dog and make sure she has no health issues that will be a danger to other animals in the country. Rabies is the premier disease that no country wants brought across its borders. It also gives the immigration department time to verify all records supplied by the pet parent. During the quarantine dogs might have to receive vaccinations if they’re required by the country you’re traveling to but are not required by the United States. Denmark doesn’t have a quarantine time for dogs that meet their requirements.
All countries require that you have vet records, certain vaccinations, and a health certificate. Most of these documents will also be required to board the flight, but check with the US State Department and the country to be absolutely sure your dog doesn’t end up in quarantine for a lengthy time due to your negligence by not obtaining the proper documents. It’s traumatic for your dog and can be extremely expensive.
Although Hawaii is part of the United States, it has a complicated system for dogs entering the state from a one-hundred-twenty-day quarantine period upon arrival to qualifying for direct release at the airport if certain procedures are completed on the mainland beforehand. Rabies is the primary vaccination that’s universally required. In addition, the dog’s home country must have a rabies-free record or a very low incidence of rabies.
One expensive international quarantine incident occurred when Elizabeth Taylor was filming a movie in England. As she was accustomed to traveling with her dogs, she planned to take them with her to England while the movie was being filmed. Taylor discovered that England had a six-month quarantine period. Her solution? Taylor rented a yacht and moored it on the Thames River. She and the dogs along with her husband Richard Burton lived on the yacht during the filming, which solved the problem since the dogs technically never entered the country because they didn’t set one paw on English soil.
Germany doesn’t allow any bull or Staffordshire terriers, including pit bulls, to enter the country; however they may be exported. Make sure your breed isn’t banned in the country you’re visiting or moving to. Almost every country requires that your dog be microchipped with a fifteen-digit International Organization for Standardization (ISO)–compliant microchip.
Dogs returning to the United States also must fulfill specific requirements. These requirements can be found on the Center for Disease Control40 and US Department of Agriculture41 websites. The US Customs and Border Control has a helpful booklet to assist pet parents in returning to the United States with their dog. Shipping pets back into the United States as cargo requires a registered agent, and information to assist in finding an agent can be found on the websites listed above.
Travel within European Union countries is easily facilitated because they have pet passports. Initially created to protect the spread of rabies, the passports have become widely used, and many United States pet parents request them from the State Department, but the United States doesn’t offer them. This doesn’t stop you from making your own unofficial pet passport. Just like you have copies made of your vital records in case an original is lost, you should do the same for your dog’s records, including all the necessary records needed for travel to another country. The “passport” should be a concise folder with all the necessary veterinary records, health certificates, and most prominently proof of rabies vaccination. A photo of your dog, her microchip information, your international cell phone number, and any other important information should be included.
Taking Rover on the road doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Know the laws of the area you’re going to, make sure you have your dog’s medical records with you, plan ahead of time, and make it an enjoyable experience.
You’ve been a good if not excellent pet parent and enjoyed many years of companionship from your dog. You’ve protected her, taken her to the vet, and made sure she had safe food and toys that didn’t harm her. You fought for her right to live in apartments and stay in hotels. You sacrificed to give her the best of everything possible, from a fenced-in yard to a soft bed. You’ve shared a life together, but neither you nor your dog will live forever.
It’s sad and devastating when we lose our canine soul mate, but what if you die before your dog does? Have you thought about what happens to your dog if you’re no longer there to care for her?
37. Section 6.16.310 Dog Beach Zone. ORDINANCE NO. C-7859 K.
38. American Pet Manufacturers Association; www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp.
39. United States Department of State.
40. www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/BringingAnimalToUs.html.
41. www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare.