Happy Tails Alerts

New LIVE Chat!

We are excited to launch our new live chat feature on our website! Have questions about our services? Wondering what the best method of transport is for your pet? Simply click the tab on the bottom right-hand side of our webpage to message us!

Responses will be received as quickly as possible during business hours (7 am - 4 pm MST Mon - Fri). After hours, the chat feature will leave us a message and we will respond the next working day.

Featured Testimonial

"I am writing to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the outstanding services provided by Happy Tails Travel during the transportation of our beloved Sparky to his new home.

From our initial contact with Happy Tails Travel, Lizzie, our Pet Travel Specialist, demonstrated unparalleled professionalism and dedication. Lizzie's expertise and commitment were evident throughout the entire process, providing us with the confidence that Sparky was in the best possible hands. Her attention to detail, clear communication, and genuine care for animals made the entire experience seamless and stress-free."

Make sure to read the rest of Sparky's testimonial and our others here!

Fall is Here - Pet Tips for the New Season

By: Bridget Monrad, R.N. | Sep 23, 2016


Fall Pet Tips


Fall is finally here! Bring on the changing leaves, pumpkin spice, apple cider, and cooler weather!  However, as the weather changes there are also things you need to keep an eye out for to make sure your pets stay safe and healthy as the holiday season approaches.

Food


The fall season brings about a lot of warm foods, such as roasts and soups. Many of the key ingredients in these dishes can be poisonous to your pets if they get ahold of them; onions and mushrooms especially can be lethal to dogs if ingested.  Most people are already well aware that chocolate is just as dangerous to your furry family members.  As Halloween approaches make sure to keep the chocolate and other sweets out of their reach!

Another factor to keep in mind is feeding your pets scraps from the dinner table.  It may be very tempting to want to share your food with your pets, especially when they look up at you with big, round, begging eyes.  However, it is not a good idea to get your pets accustomed to eating from the dinner table; this can lead to bad behaviors in the future and your pets overstepping boundaries.  In addition, you need to monitor how much food your pets are eating. Frequently receiving human food, is an easy way for pets to overeat which can cause weight gain and lead to other health problems.

Weather


In most parts of the country, fall is also associated with a decrease in the temperature outside.  This means you have to take extra precautions to protect your pets. Make sure to not leave your pets outside for extended amounts of time, especially not overnight!  If you would not want to be outside, neither does your pet.  Make sure that while they are outside they have a safe place to hide from the outdoor elements if needed, but this should not be a substitution for your heated house.

Fall also results in less hours of daylight.  For this reason, make sure your pets have reflective collars and pet gear while you are out on walks. This will help ensure you and your pet are seen by others.  

The cooler weather also may defer you from walking your dogs as often as you had in the warmer months.  While this is okay, it is important to make sure your pets are still getting out and getting their daily exercise! You may consider alternatives such as playing in the house, or shorter, more frequent, walks outside.  Keeping a steady routine is key to helping your pet release their energy and can also counterbalance all of the holiday food!

Chemicals


People typically use the autumn season to prepare their houses and cars for the winter; most commonly with antifreeze and other chemicals. According to the SPCA, “many animals like the sweet taste of antifreeze and will readily consume it when given the opportunity. However, antifreeze, even in the smallest amounts, can have a very harmful and often fatal effect on your pet.”  As the human, it is up to you to protect your pets.  You can easily do this, by not working on your cars while your pets are around and also by keeping the chemicals out of reach and sealed tightly.  Consider using an animal-friendly alternative to traditional antifreeze, such as a variation that is made with propylene glycol, instead of ethylene glycol.

Travel


As with the hot summer months, cooler temperatures can also pose unique challenges to pet transportation. While there may be some restrictions to pet travel, Happy Tails Travel works with the best airlines that have certain policies in place to ensure your pet can travel safely and comfortably.  An example is United Airlines Pet Safe Program.  Pets are transported to/from the aircraft in air-conditioned or heated vehicles and before and during the flights they are kept in climate controlled live animal facilities.  The pets are always the last ones on the plane and the first ones off, to avoid waiting on the tarmac.  While flying, unaccompanied pets are below the aircraft, and while many people refer to this as “cargo” this is a separate area for live animals away from the luggage.  This area is fully temperature controlled, pressurized, and oxygenated.
 

Have more questions? Contact us at www.HappyTailsTravel.com and we’d be glad to provide more tips and information!