Summer is here! And the high holiday season is upon us.

This is when the problem of pet abandonment increases – dogs and cats are left behind by their owners. In Portugal, it is estimated that a frightening number of 10,000 animals are abandoned per year.

These days, in addition to being regrettable that this type of attitude still exists, it is less and less justifiable – has it ever been? – because there are more and more options that allow us to give our 4-legged friends the treatment they deserve.

There is a whole range of options to which we can resort:

Take our little friends with us;

let them:

• In a hotel for animals;
• In charge of a “pet sitter”, in your house or ours;
• With family or friends.

Take our pet on vacation with us

These days, it is increasingly easier to take our pet on holiday with us, especially if we are planning to travel by car or train.

Train

On urban trains – Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, InterRegional or Reginal da CP – we can transport our 4-legged friend for free.

For this, it is necessary to transport it in a transport bag, as long as it is properly packed in a bag or transport box for this purpose.

Car

If we go on vacation by car , despite being an easy-to-use means of transport for our pet, we have to be conscientious. Having animals loose in the car, on our laps or outside the car window is a danger, both for them and for other passengers and other cars.

According to the legislation, “the transport of animals must be carried out in vehicles and containers appropriate to the species and number of animals to be transported, taking into account space, ventilation, temperature, safety and water supply in order to safeguard their protection and the safety of people and other animals” . Failure to comply with these rules can be worth a fine ranging from 60 to 600 euros, according to the Highway Code.

Transport in a carrier is the most stable way of transporting our animal, available in different sizes and adapted to different animals.

Another possible solution for our dogs is the use of a dog seat belt, which works like a reinforced leash that secures the dog, at chest level and collar, to the car. In the event of an accident, attachment to the animal's chest area is safer, as it prevents strangulation.

Plane

If we go to a distant country and need to catch a plane to reach our holiday destination, we will have to organize the trip a little more in advance and choose airlines and hotels that are “ pet friendly ”.

Nowadays, many airlines allow the transport of animals, as long as we respect the conditions imposed. Normally, if our little friend does not exceed the established maximum weight, he will be able to travel with us in the cabin of the plane. Otherwise, our animal will have to travel in the hold. In both situations, our friend must be transported in an adapted transport bag/cage and must have a passport issued by an accredited veterinarian.

Hotel / holiday home

We have also managed to find hotels/houses for rent that accept our four-legged friends.

There may be some extra payment for this service as it may be free.

It is important to always know in advance if our vacation spot accepts our little friends, and it is our duty to indicate their size.

Leaving our animal in the care of others

If our holiday destination is not the best place to take our pet, the option we have available is to leave it in the care of others.

One solution is to resort to the services of a “pet sitter” .

As the name implies, the “pet sitter” is a “baby sitter” for animals. We may want to leave our pet at the caretaker's house during the period of our vacation, or ask him to come to our house to take care of our friend so as not to subject our pet to too much stress. This last option is one of the most popular, as the animal does not see its routine too affected.

There are people who provide these services, but if we can get the cheapest option it would be perfect: having friends or family do us a favor to stay or come by our house to take care of our animal. In addition to ending up being much more affordable, our 4-legged friends are not so surprised by our absence, as they have a familiar face.

When we don't have anyone to turn to, we always have specialized hotels for animals.

Nowadays there are several hotels that are dedicated to receiving exclusively our pets, with all the necessary comfort and dedication.

If you need more details, with suggestions and more detailed information, here are the links to:

• Useful information about traveling with animals on CP trains.
• Airline conditions for the transport of animals by plane.
• Hotels in Portugal with pets.
• Some Pet-sitting services here.
• Find pet hotels.