Written by Angie Li / Translated by: Ken Kraynak

To some people, dogs, cats, birds, lizards, snakes, rabbits, etc., are just so many different sorts of animals; to pet owners however, they are part of the family. They may not look like us humans, but people do form very strong emotional connections with their pets, and see them as much more than just another animal. But when it's time to take a trip, pet owners run into problems, since most hotels don't allow pets, and many people who have never raised pets have concerns about hygiene and safety. Another common concern of hoteliers is that if a pet’s owner doesn’t look after it properly, the smells and sounds of an unfamiliar environment may make it nervous and lead it to inflict harm on itself, such as when birds pull out their feathers. Other pets attempt to vent their emotions or get their owner’s attention by barking, aggressive behavior, or biting furniture. 

Whatever mode of transportation you are using, one good idea is to place one of your pet’s favorite toys inside its travelling cage. This will make him or her more comfortable about entering and being in the cage. When making stops, it’s best to avoid indoor activities since, in most situations, your pet can neither go inside nor be left in a vehicle under the hot sun. Keep in mind that during hot weather, all it takes is a few minutes for the temperature inside a vehicle to reach 60 degrees Celsius. In such temperatures a pet will suffer terribly and can even die. 

Lots of people nowadays regard their pets as part of the family, and the Taiwan Railways Administration has responded by implementing a plan which allows people to travel together with their pets. It’s not an ideal plan, but it is a start. Lots of people are concerned that there is little understanding of the importance of respect and tolerance in making everybody happy. Some people presume that all pets are a certain way, and that when they go into a public place they are bound to cause trouble for others. Hence the many restrictions placed on pets. It would be great if we could gradually set up special pet areas so that our whole family would feel welcome in public places. This is respect. 

In addition to being willing to put up with some inconveniences, travelling with a pet also requires toleration. Regardless of its degree of pet-friendliness, every environment has its own particular circumstances. Better than demanding that others accept our pets as members of our family is a willingness to tolerate the preconceptions of others, as well as a certain amount of inconvenience. After all, taking a vacation is all about having fun. If you can keep an open and positive attitude, then everybody will be happy and you may even help some people to change their mind about pets. As pet-friendly establishments receive more positive feedback, things may begin to improve. And who knows, perhaps one day Taiwan will be like Northern Europe, where you can bring your dog on the subway and let him jump up on the seat without anybody even batting an eyelash! 

Sure, it would be great if everybody would regard our pets as members of the family, but we still have a long way to go. The most important thing is for pet owners to establish and maintain a good attitude. The more we can do this, the easier it will be for our pets to join the family and get out and have some fun!