Traveling with a Pet

I swore I would never get a dog as a traveler. I had every intention of getting one in the future... but once I was settled somewhere, not traveling. Having a pet comes with responsibilities, and in my head I believed these responsibilities would be doubly difficult on the road and would limit the possibilities of what I could do while I lived this lifestyle. It was not until my third contract when I was living with two other travelers with dogs that I realized that it is way more doable than I thought, and before I knew it I was getting a puppy of my own. That was back in 2020, and me and my pup Zoey have come a long way since then. But the most important thing I learned since she came into my life? No matter the challenges we face, I couldn’t imagine life without her in it anymore.  So if you already have pets of your own, or are considering getting a pet during your travels, here are some of the biggest things to consider......

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Transportation 
As a traveler, you are having to fit everything you own into your car. Now, it’s just a matter of
making room to fit an additional furry friend or two. Shotgun or backseat? Carrier or bed? Don’t
forget room for their pet supplies too. You also need to consider their temperament on the
road—are they calm or do they get anxious? Can they only tolerate short trips or do they enjoy
long rides? These are all questions to ask yourself before bringing them along on a contract. 

Housing 
This may be the most challenging aspect of having a pet as a traveler, because it can get more
difficult depending on the type and breed of pet. Before taking a contract, look into pet friendly
housing in the area you’re considering taking an assignment to make sure there are options
available to you with your specific needs. Sites like Furnished Finder and Airbnb have ‘Pet
Friendly’ filters you can use when searching to narrow down options. Keep in mind that some
cities are more dog friendly than others. For example, you’d have much better luck finding dog
friendly housing in San Diego, CA than NYC, NY.

What To Do When You’re At Work
Depending on your pet’s temperament and/or age, it may be feasible to leave them at home
while you’re at work for the full duration, in which case this wouldn’t be something you’d need
to worry about. However, if they get separation anxiety, get scared in new spaces, or need to
be let out every few hours, this may not be the case. 
Some options to consider: 

•  Find housing that’s close to work, and talk to your potential supervisor to see if you can

leave on your lunch break to check in on them. 

•  Search for local pet daycares and their rates to see if this might be an option. It can give

you more peace of mind knowing your pet is in good hands while you’re away.

•  If you have a trustworthy neighbor or friend nearby, you might be able to get them to

check in on your pet for you.  

Finding a Sitter 
There are going to be times when you can’t take your pet with you if you go out of town. In
these cases, you can either utilize the connections you’ve made at your location, like friends or
coworkers who would be willing to watch your pet for you, or if this isn’t an option, using a
website like Rover.com is reliable and trustworthy for finding a pet sitter in your area to watch
them while you’re away. 

Health
When bringing pets along on your travelers, it is important to look into veterinarian access and
pet-friendly spaces in the area you plan to live. For annual check-ups and in the event of an
emergency, having a vet close by is key to your pet’s health. Keep a folder with up-to-date
records of vaccinations and health info to bring with you place to place. If you have an active
pet that needs open spaces or places to walk, this is also something to look into when deciding
where you want to live. Choosing somewhere with walking paths, parks, or a fenced in
backyard can be helpful for giving your pet what it needs. 

Specific Resource for Dogs
BringFido.com is a great website to use to find dog friendly hotels, restaurants, and activities in
your area! They also have great blogs and pet friendly resources so that you can include your
pup(s) in all of your adventures. 

There’s a lot to consider when traveling with pets, but to me, the pros always outweigh the
cons. You learn to figure it out on the way and meet challenges as they come. Now that I have
Zoey, she is my favorite travel buddy and my best friend to come home to each day. I promise
you if you ask any traveling healthcare worker if it’s worth it to have their pet with them, they
will say yes every time. Why not you?

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Written by: Morgan Lauchnor, Travel OT