Dogward Bound! Travel Tips for You and Your Pooch

In March of '07, my former foster partner and I packed up all of our belongings and traveled nearly 2500 miles - from Estacada, Oregon, to Columbia, Kentucky - in an old transit bus we found on Craigslist. While this in and of itself wasn't all that extraordinary, the cargo we had with us most definitely was; in Oregon, I interned with an animal rescue that was host to cats, dogs, goats, chickens, and other assorted furred and feathered creatures both large and small. For our trek, we took a whopping SIXTY-FIVE of those creatures with us. We spent weeks preparing, doing our best to minimize the trauma of the move. When we finally hit the road, we were pleased to find that all of our planning had served us well: we arrived in Kentucky without incident, and our furry friends were soon comfortable in their new home.

Here are a few of the things we learned along the way:

(1) Don't overfeed. You'll have less mess to clean up along the way, and your pooch will thank you for making the travel time that much more comfortable without a full belly. A good rule of thumb is to give about one-third the usual amount of food, sticking with kibble rather than wet food, to avoid messy spills or the need for refrigeration. If your dog is used to chewing on marrow bones, it's great to bring one along with you while traveling - they provide much-needed calcium, and will keep your favorite pup occupied for hours!

(2) Remember cleaning supplies. Even the most travel-savvy pups may feel queasy during a long journey; you can check out my post here to learn what you'll need to make your very own doggy travel kit. It's inexpensive, and will do wonders in reducing your stress on the road.

(3) Make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date. With hundreds of strange animals passing through, rest stops are a haven for diseases like parvovirus, distemper, and the flu. If your pups are too young for vaccinations, it's best not to risk it by letting them set foot on foreign soil. You're better off cleaning up a messy crate than seeing your little ones suffer the effects of a deadly virus picked up on the road.

(4) Provide proper containment. Even if your pup loves the feel of the highway, bring along a crate for emergencies. If the car breaks down or there's an accident, your guy will be safely confined while you sort out the mess.

(5) Microchip, microchip, microchip. Particularly when traveling through a strange place, your pooch may become panicked and bolt at a rest area or gas station. Microchipping significantly increases the chances that your pup pal will be returned to you no matter how far you are from home.

Follow these tips and you'll have a great start to a happy life on the road with your favorite canine compadre!


The interior of the magic bus, lined with crates containing 35 cats, 18 dogs, 3 goats, and 7 chickens. Also on the ride with us were four degus, a Muloccan cockatiel named Snuggles, and Pancho the cockatoo.