Written by Jane Alvarez, CNN London Contributors, Written by Meagan Gillespie, CNN
Traveling with a dog is something pet owners seem to enjoy, with statistics showing that just under half (49%) of dogs owned by U.S. households are in “active, daily” hands.
So, seeing that business travel is often the norm, pet owners should be able to relax, right?
Some companies don’t think so. The world’s largest global pet travel provider, C.D.C., has recently imposed a ban on dogs in hotels, given that they “can be a disruptive element” at airports.
The company has now clarified its position, saying that the ban will not apply to “an increasing number of properties that now offer pet-friendly hotels or apartments as standard,” according to a statement on the company’s website.
Dog owners who have been shocked at the new rules must now choose whether to stick with the company, or to fly with their beloved pooch on airlines.
Further clarity came in an email from a representative at C.D.C., which reads: “We are sometimes asked if our policy has been updated to reflect new legislation in the UK. At present, this hasn’t changed, and in the countries with where C.D.C. is already present, there is no relevant UK regulation preventing a traveler from bringing a pet along.
“The main difference now is that the legislation in the US does prohibit pets from being in bed with a traveler, thereby limiting what can be seen during a layover,” the email continued.
The email also confirmed that C.D.C. “hundreds of independent-operated properties worldwide” are now dog-friendly and revealed a list of some of its more popular locations, including Barbados, as well as Hollywood-based hotels.
In addition, another pet business, Yorkshire Nation, told CNN Travel that travel clubs for dogs were “actively promoting mixed-breed dog travel experiences.”
Adopted pet traveling
One dog owner who traveled with a dog on international flights, Vincent La Malfa, tells CNN Travel that his adopted rescue animal, a six-year-old poodle-cross named Samuel, survived the flight with little damage.
Lymma, who owns a travel agency, was flying back from San Diego and was going to bring Samuel back home to his owners in Ontario, Canada.
“He was the only thing in the crate, and luckily he had his kennel harness handy to protect him from any turbulence,” he said.
Lymma, who uses websites such as MyPetsTravel.com , an online company which specializes in pet travel, says that his organization doesn’t have the luxury of having to incur the expense of bringing Samuel back home.
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“We know that paying for an airline seat and pet costs isn’t easy to budget for,” he told CNN Travel. “And what really kills the customer, though, is when their pet chews through their pet carrier, flukes its way out of his crate, meets a passenger in the boarding area and notifies them to let them know he’s in the cabin.”
As for the general consensus among pet owners, La Malfa says, “I didn’t agree with the policy — especially since it is impossible to get your pet to tears by no longer allowing them to travel with you.”