<p>I was simply responding to singersmom’s post above mine, dragonmom, about the cost of carrying on the dog. I agree-- if it takes up the space that would otherwise be taken by ones purse or something, and is a legit carry on- why charge?</p>
<p>No Offense, but I am so not a pet person. I am actually allergic to many cats and dogs, although I am OK at most houses where cats and dogs live, if there is regular cleaning. So I would probably be OK if a cat or dog was in a carrier under the next seat. What I might object to is having the animal out of the carrier. </p>
<p>Actually, I would probably ask for a seat change if a pet was with a person in my row. I really do not like animals. Of course, I cannot remember when I last flew and there were empty seats.</p>
<p>I agree with jym
Except ( drat that second thought). In case of emergency, more effort would be expended saving your dog than saving your purse…
Purely hypothetical thinking and heading for bed…</p>
<p>Now I’ feeling really bad about S letting dog out of crate. Wow and I feel stupid. I had no idea that dog allergies could be that severe. I knew that some people have serious reactions to cats, but always thought dog allergies are mostly more mild, like a bit of hayfever.</p>
<p>In case of emergency I think they tell you to leave your purse behind :)</p>
<p>Like hayfever - not!<br>
Visualize your 11 month old covered with hives and struggling to breathe as you speed toward the emergency room.</p>
<p>I agree with mamom- if I or a family member had a severe allergy (well come to think of it, DS’s gf has a severe, as in will cause an asthma attack) to dogs/cats and I did not want fur/dander/slobber to get on me, I’d mention how cute the pup was but that unfortunately because of the risk to yourself/your child, the flight attendant would need to relocate one of us (ie you or the person with the pet) and then call the flight attendant. Let them deal with it. Likely they’ll find someone willing to swap seats.</p>
<p>mamom - actually, I am the only one in our family of four that is not seriously allergic to cats, so we have an appreciation for people who have pet allergies. Once, when D2 was younger and our hair stylist was working out of her house, I took her with me while I got my hair done. She sat on the stairs and petted the stylist’s cat for a few minutes (this was just prior to figuring out she was developing an allergy to cats). Not only did she have to take Benadryl when we got home, but after she sat on H’s lap for a while after he got home from work, all of a sudden his eyes started to water, turn red and swell up quite badly. We couldn’t figure out what was going on, until we realized she must have gotten cat dander on her at the house and passed it along to H several hours later. So we get it. Which is why I wouldn’t have a problem tracking down a flight attendant and suggesting he/she take a gander down the aisle and suggest the passenger put their pet back in the carrier. </p>
<p>dragonmom - on the airlines website, they specifically address the issue of an emergency and how the pet quite likely might not get the oxygen it would need, and that passengers need to be aware of this before they fly with them. </p>
<p>
Because there are enough 27-year old women out there, who are easily suckered into paying it in order to prevent them from leaving their precious little ones at home (likely in the care of someone very capable!). While she’ll likely break even or pay a bit for this trip, she’ll be here long enough over Thanksgiving and Christmas that it’s cheaper to bring the dog with her than leave it with a dog sitter.</p>
<p>Because between every flight all surfaces are cleaned. Responding to my friend jym, not other posts</p>
<p>celesteroberts - good idea about putting down something absorbable in the carrier! Hadn’t thought about that. Will pass it along to her.</p>
<p>I think severe reactions are more common in cats than dogs, but people can certainly have severe reactions with dogs. I’m going to try to find a link that one of my FB friends (runs a dog rescue group here) just put up about new research and findings out there about what makes people react to cats/dogs. It could put an end to all the suffering that goes on now. It was very interesting!</p>
<p>OK… couldn’t find a link to an article, so I can’t verify the validity of this news, but this is what was posted: </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It was posted on a vet’s website.</p>
<p>??? dragonmom? Help?? Which is that in response to?? Apologies, but my cold/flu medicine is not kicking in and I am more foggy-headed than usual. </p>
<p>And add to that that yes, I believe they are “supposed” to wipe all surfaces between flights, but how many of us have found gunk that makes it pretty clear the cleaning crew might have skipped a few steps…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Ick… reminds me of the vomit thread a while back. I just kept wanting that thread to disappear to page 10 so I wouldn’t have to look at the thread title every day!</p>
<p>Me too, kick back the vomit thread…</p>
<p>please do not speak of vomit to someone with post nasal drip.</p>
<p>So what was your post #29 in response to, dragonmom?? I am still confused…</p>
<p>Me too, time for bed. Thank you all for being such thoughtful posters.</p>
<p>?? Leaving me in suspense? No fair. Might make me vomit in anticipation…</p>
<p>Do not sedate the animal; often, it only stresses them out more. They get groggy and disoriented, and they are in a loud, new place.</p>
<p>TSA will require the pet to be removed from the carrier, and the carrier will be x-rayed. Bring a harness for he pet and put it on before this point. </p>
<p>Sometimes, putting the carrier on your lap can help: you can pet the furry one during the flight without taking him out of the carrier. </p>
<p>Put an absorbent lining in the bottom of the carrier and carry extra ones in carry-on.</p>
<p>A semi-update. D1 and pooch are in the air. I will leave shortly for the airport, with my four-legged creature in store, and the two shall meet!</p>
<p>In the meantime, she put up a Facebook photo of the pooch in his carrier, as they were in the passenger boarding area, so I got to see how he fits in it. I commented on her page that it looks like that dog has more room in the carrier than I do when I’m in my airline seat! I could tell he had a sweater on (perhaps his Packers sweater, since that’s the reason she’s coming in town this weekend - we’re all going up to Lambeau Field for the game - well, minus the doggies), and had plenty of soft bedding.</p>