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Leisure Travel ENJOYING LIFE WITH YOUR PLANE
Ruffing It: Traveling With Pets
 One of the great joys of general aviation is being able to bring the whole family with you on your travels, and many times, that includes the family pet. Marilyn Subach, founder of Flying Paws, a non-profit organization that flies special needs
animals to rescue shelters and permanent homes, is somewhat of an expert in general aviation pet travel. Her organization's 75-member, all-volunteer air force transports about 200 animals per year, and most of those are ill or require some special attention.
"We got tired of the hundred dollar hamburger, going no place, so we decided to fly animals," she said of the three-year-old organization. "It's an unusual group of people who want to use the aircraft not just for fun, but also to give back."
If you're planning on taking the family pet across state lines, Subach said you must have a health certificate for the animal, and proof of a rabies vaccination.
People often focus on how the rigors of flight affect the animal, and there are ways to make your pet feel comfortable during the flight. Cats should always be in a carrier, and dogs should either be in an enclosed carrier or restrained with a harness that is attached to a seat.
Subach recommends a harness instead of a collar because in the event of an emergency, the pilot can pull the animal out of the airplane using a harness; with a collar, a dog or cat can wriggle free and will be too frightened to be pulled out of the airplane.
Stop feeding the animal about an hour before flight, and make sure it gets plenty of walking in before you take off. Once inside the airplane, Subach recommends attaching a small dish to the inside of the carrier, and putting a chunk of ice into the dish. The animal will be able to get moisture by licking the ice, but you won't have to worry about sloshing liquid all around the inside of your airplane.
Hearing protection is important if your pet flies with you a lot. Pet owner Michele McGuire noticed her dog Cooper seemed a bit frazzled during trips in her 172, so she set about inventing MuttMuffs, hearing protection for dogs.
The units, which are expected to go on sale this month for $52, come in four sizes and McGuire said the smallest size may fit a cat—she needs a cat to do some flight testing. You can purchase MuttMuffs from at muttmuffs.com.
The biggest concern Subach has flying animals by general aviation has to do with the time the animals spend on the ground.
Most importantly, animals should have an identity microchip implanted in them by a vet prior to the trip. The process can be done for around $50, and involves implanting a coded microchip under the animal's skin. The code on the microchip is registered with your information and information about the vet who put it in.
If your dog or cat ever ran away during a fuel stop, there would be no way for local officials to track you down. Collars can get lost, but micro-chips protect the animal for life. Many vets, and all animal shelters have scanners that can read the microchip. All animal shelters are required by law to scan for it, ensuring that if your pet is found, you'll be able to get it back.
On a similar note, Subach recommends attaching a tag with your contact info and your vet's contact info, and any medications your animal may be on, to the pet carrier or harness. This way if you have an accident and are unable to speak, rescue personnel can identify your animal and find someone to come take care of it.
And speaking of medications-don't medicate your pet prior to travel. Subach said medicated pets can't tell you if they are having problems, such as breathing problems, so it's far better for the animal to be unmedicated during your trips-no matter how bad the noise is!
The most important part of traveling with pets, Subach says, is to pay attention to the pet. She recommends that the person in the right seat be in charge of making sure the animal is walked at each stop, as well as given food and moisture.
And finally, if you like flying with your pet and want to spend time giving other animals a second chance at life, Subach is looking for pilot volunteers to help continue her work.
"You can only do so many flights as an individual," she says. "So the more pilots we have, the more chances we have of a pilot being able to save an animal."
Visit flyingpaws.org if you can help.
—Sean Fulton
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