Pet Patrol

Now that we are passing the Memorial Day weekend, summer is at the door, and in many cases people and pets are already experiencing 80 – 90 degree temperatures. Susie wants everyone to be aware of the dangers inherent in warm weather for her and her animal friends. 

On Sunday, June 9, 2013, Susie and I said our goodbyes to our new friends in St.Jean-sur-Richelieu and began our trek to our next overnight stop in Niagara Falls, Ontario. We only had limited time, but had a few hours in the morning to take a quick tour of Montreal.

Before you travel with your pet the first thing to consider is whether the pet can or should travel. Every pet is an individual with specific preferences and characteristics. Not every pet is suited or ready for travel. You should know your pet well enough to know if they are comfortable riding in the car for more than just short trips to the veterinarian. Also your veterinarian is a good judge of your pet’s suitability for travel, especially if the vet has been seeing your pet for some length of time. 

Susie and Beau are always glad to hear about new opportunities for pets in travel. It has come to our attention that a bill has recently passed the House of Representatives (HR 2066) that will require Amtrak to allow pets aboard trains. The billed is dubbed the Pets on Trains Act, which is part of a larger package called the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act.

Susie and her daddy are preparing for their first big trip together, and would like to share some of the forethought gone into the preparations for the journey. When the dynamic duo returns, they will also share not only tales(or “ tails”) of their experiences, but also any travel tips that they picked up on the road – or as Susie prefers to call it “the Pawed Pathway.” Susie’s daddy remembers traveling with his brother, parents and pet Beagle, Peggy, with great fondness and looks forward to sharing the same experience with Susie.

So here's a spot you probably haven't thought to explore in Paris – the area known as Bercy. This is actually a great place to spend a few nights especially if you are traveling with your grandchildren. The Pullman Paris Bercy is one of the most reasonably priced hotels while visiting the City of Lights. Granted, you are not in the heart of Paris, but a mere 15 minute Metro ride into the center. The hotel has a very modern feel with amenities the kids will like – it is child and pet friendly. The beds are very comfortable and the food and service is quite good. The bathrooms are equipped with amenities and are quite large – all of which is hard to find in the center of Paris.

Susie couldn’t go for long without shouting out about a great pet-friendly restaurant in our home town of Louisville, Kentucky. Recently the whole family, Susie, Beau, Mama and Daddy all went for lunch to Selena’s on a beautiful sunny and cool late spring day. 

Sweet Mochie, the dog in the photos, dreams everyday about the red velvet bones that Shake Shack has from Woof Delights. I know since he lives with me and barked at me so!!!

This fabulous place opened 2013 and is located in the Royal Opera House. The first location was in Madison Square in Manhattan. There is not anything that my friend Danny Meyer does in the food industry that is not brilliant including my favorite Union Square Cafe located in Union Square in Manhattan.

Susie is ready to pack up and head to Scotland after being told about a fabulous property in Crail right on the Scottish coast northeast of Edinburgh. Just picture staying for a week in an immaculate fisherman’s cottage perched directly above Crail harbor.

Susie is still spry and able to jump into the SUV, but she was still impressed with the Solvit Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp. Especially for large dogs with hip problems, or any dog with arthritis brought on by old age, the ramp is an excellent addition for making it easier to get your best friend into the car with minimum effort. One of Susie’s cousins is an elderly boxer that has to be lifted into the back on her daddy’s SUV. The Solvit pet ramp makes it easier both on the dog and their human to take them in the vehicle.

Susie has a great gift suggestion for you and your best friend – Solvit’s HomeAway Travel Organizer Kit. Whether you travel with your dog on long or short excursions, this is a great way to consolidate most of the things you need while you are away from home. 

 Susie is a safety conscious girl and she was delighted to discover that Solvit had a safety harness for dogs. The harness connects to the seat belt in the rear seat of our SUV and protects the dogs in case of an accident or sudden stop. Susie has a medium harness which fits dogs in the 20 – 55 pound range and Beau has a small harness for dogs from 6 – 25 pounds. There are also two sizes for larger dogs – Large for dogs from 45 -  85 pounds and Extra Large for dogs  from 60 – 120 pounds. There is a sizing chart on the Solvit web site for measuring other dimensions to get the best fit for your pet.