If your family is like mine and can’t bear to go on holiday without dear old Fido, take heart. It can be done! It takes time, persistence, patience and planning, and, let me confess, lots of money. But thanks to LTC, we’ve proved that it’s possible. We’ve been from Bangalore to Himachal twice, and to places closer to home several times. Of course if your pet is friendly and relaxed (ours isn’t!), it will be that much easier.
First of all, the mode of transport. The best ways to go are either by car or by first class on a train. That way your pet is with you all the time, unlike air travel where it will generally be subjected to the traumatic experience of being shoved in the hold. The Railways let you keep your dog with you in a First Class or First AC compartment, provided other passengers don’t object. It’s best if you have a whole coupe or 4-berth compartment to yourselves. Once you get to the station, book in the dog as luggage, nag the Ticket Examiner to make sure you have a compartment to yourselves, and you’re in. Plan in advance the stations where you’ll walk the dog! You need at least a 10-minute halt to do this comfortably.
Next, accommodation. Write ahead to ask if your dog is welcome. Even if the hotel agrees on the phone, it’s best to get this in writing from the manager in case there’s a problem when you arrive. Generally hotels don’t mind if you’re staying in a cottage or hut, so look for such accommodation. Avoid the peak season, when tempers tend to be frayed! Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation hotels are wonderfully hospitable. Tamil Nadu is very tough on pet lovers. Karnataka is more friendly, but in many cases the manager will have to bend his rules so you are on slippery ground.
Food may be a problem, so make sure you have a lot of fallback food like bread, milk, cheese, dog biscuits. Curd rice travels well and is invaluable in emergencies and sickness!!! Carry whatever medicines you may need and make sure vaccinations are up to date.
Lastly, the key is planning. Start planning at least 3 months in advance. Once you’ve done it a couple of times it gets easier, especially once you know the place and the people. Our second time round, we hopped around Himachal in taxies without a care or a booking!
Bon voyage and woof!