Dog Travel Safety During the Holidays

Well--- the team here at SHONGear would like to think so!  =) 
...So ok... everyone recognizes Niecie in her reindeer antlers!  But she is a luv muffin no matter how we dress her!  Right?

 

Niecie is an extension of our hearts. 

Just like your dog is to yours.  And keeping them safe is a responsibility we all carry with us.  The most common of times within the horrible statistics of the frequency of pet loss, is when we travel.  And during holiday time, when so many of us are in the air and traveling by car with our dogs, the statistics on pet loss are staggering. 

 

Some of the saddest times for many families during the holidays,  is due to a loss of a pet. 

 

Dogs are going to be dogs.  They are going to want to sniff and explore.  But the stories are many of dogs who escape from hotel rooms, or a car at a rest station, while just using their innate senses to seek release from their unfamiliar restrictions and small confines. 

 

Many dogs escape their crates at the hands of airline personnel before boarding an airplane, are said to be often seen running across the tarmac into the streets of an unknown city.

 

So what happens when a dog runs?  They get confused as to direction.  They follow scent, but none of them are familiar.  Lost dogs are often spotted by many, and just considered a common stray.

 

By marking your pet with the brightly marked Traveling Pet message on a vest, immediately people will recognize that the dog is not where he is supposed to be.  Strangers who find the dog can quickly retrieve your itinerary, contact info and travel route in the waterproof container carried on their back.  (No one wants to put their hand down to a strange dog's throat area in case they may bite). 

NO computer needed. 

NO identity chip reader needed. 

Most first responders who would find your dog, do not carry those with them readily! =) 

 

We hear of many customers who have their dog returned without the dog going to the local Animal Control or having some horrible highway accident.  This was our purpose when designing this vest.

 

 

We believe that by marking your dog, you are giving your dog an extra layer of protection and insurance to safeguard them.  Please visit us a www.SHONGear.com to provide your dog that extra protection, as well.

 

So we are trying to get the word out there early this year, before holiday travel begins.  In attempts to help vest your dog before the holidays, we are automatically upgrading all order shipping to Priority Mail at no extra cost when customers choose routine mail as shipping preference.

 

We are excited about the approaching holidays! 

And we will be looking up into the skies on Christmas Eve to see if Santa  uses the high visibility vests that we leave for his Reindeer this year!  Especially for Rudolf.  His bright red nose will just have everyone glowing! 

 

Please mark your dogs and have a safe and happy holiday season, from the SHONGear Designs family, to yours!

 

Eyes to the skies on Christmas Eve, everyone!

Kindest Regards!

 

Jonni

Take Your Pet on a Trip in Safety and Style!

It’s clear that dogs are way more than just man’s best friend: they’re our companions, our cheer-er uppers, and sometimes our travel partners. With the Westminster Kennel Club show just a few days away, despite nature’s best attempts to stop the show, thousands of dogs will be traveling to New York for one of the most prestigious dog shows out there.

But traveling with your furry friend is not always as simple as jumping in the car and going. Some dogs, such as the Westminster show dogs, travel thousands of miles and need to be crated while flying or being transported. It is not always possible to keep an eye on your canine all of the time, but we all want to know our dogs are safe despite where they may be in the travel process.

This reality hit hard in 2006 for Jil Walton, owner of a whippet named Vivi recognized for an award of merit at Westminster, who escaped from her cage at the Kennedy Airport while being prepared for her flight back to California. Even after a huge search of the airport, Vivi was never found. One can’t always count on others to handle their companions with the care that they normally would. Things like a lock failing or cage door being not fully closed are possibilities that always have to be considered. 

 

Here at SHONgear we prepare our dogs for travel by hooking them up with a Traveling Pet SHONVest. While we can’t always ensure the safety of our pets, we can take any necessary precaution. The Traveling Pet SHONVest has pockets for pertinent travel information such as your trip itinerary, dog’s medical information, and your contact information just in case your little guys decide to do some sightseeing on their own. The Travel Vests come with our own SHONGear travel itineraries! Just fill out your trip and contact information on the cards, place them in the itinerary pouch or water-tight pet information container, and anyone will be able to easily identify your dog.

Not all dogs get loose at the airport like Vivi. But what if Vivi was wearing a high visibility SHONVest?   Would she have been spotted?  Being out with your dog there is always the chance he or she may wander away from you or simply get out of eye-shot. With the security of a Travel Vest you can be positive that your dog will have the information needed to return him or her safely to you. We never leave the house without our wallets and IDs, why should your dog? Click here to view more about SHONGear's Traveling Pet Vest and check out this short video below about the Travel Vest and head over to our shop for even more information and pricing! 

http://SHONGear.com