It is always stressful to travel with your pet, but these tips will help make the trip easier for you:
BRING THE BASICS with you, such as food and water, bowls, leashes, a poop scoop, plastic bag etc. Unexpected delays may mean you might have to use any or all of them.
IDENTIFY YOUR PET Microchip identification is recommended. We suggest that for a journey of considerable distance (such as when relocating to another province), you might wish to place a temporary disc on your pet's collar. This would give the destination information and a cell phone contact number.
HARNESS rather than leash your dog inside the vehicle. For smaller animals, a well-ventilated crate is recommended.
KEEP HEADS INSIDE THE VEHICLE for safety's sake. If a pet hangs his head outside a moving vehicle, it can lead to injuries from flying objects, inner ear damage or even lung infections. It's safer all round to keep those heads inside.
CONSIDER BARRIERS for what is the pet carrying area, be it the back seat, the "hatch” part of the vehicle or beneath the bakkie's canopy. It is much safer especially in the event of an accident or sudden braking. It might be a good idea to water-proof seat covers with thick plastic and to do the same to floors in the vehicle for ease of clean-up if accidents do happen.
News supplied by uMngeni SPCA.