Stopping while on the road with your pet

[Frank P. Martin]

What do you do with your pet when you're on the road and you stop for a "bathroom break", rest stop, tourist attraction, etc.?

For the motorhome folks, I think the answer to this question is easy. You probably start your "genny" (If it's not started already), fire up the A/C and go. But, while everyone's answer is welcome, I'm looking more for answers from those with trailers as (to me anyway) the situation is a little more complex being that your pet is in the TV with you. The only answer I see to this problem is to leave the pet(s) unattended with the engine (and A/C) running.

Personally, I don't feel safe using this method and have concerns with laws in some areas regarding unattended pets (I once mistakenly received a summons to appear in court because I supposedly left an unattended dog in the bed of my truck while parked in a national seashore parking lot in New Jersey. I have a cat.).

I realize one of us can stay in the TV while the other goes and vice-versa, but that doesn't work in all cases. So far, all of our trips since acquiring kitty have been under four hours so they've been "non-stop". However, there are times we'd like to stop somewhere, but don't because of "What do we do with kitty?" while we're dining at the Cracker Barrel, shopping for supplies at the Walmart (or whatever).

[Chuck 1935]

How about leaving your pet in the trailer with the air on and the windows open (in case the air quits). That way they have water, food and a nice spot to curl up in. You can close off any area you don't want them in.

[Frank P. Martin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck 1935 How about leaving your pet in the trailer with the air on and the windows open (in case the air quits). That way they have water, food and a nice spot to curl up in. You can close off any area you don't want them in.

Good Suggestion. However I can only leave the windows open as there's no generator to run TT's A/C. However, I do have a Maxx/Air fan that runs on 12V to draw air throughout the TT.

When we camp with kitty, I prefer to leave windows open and the Maxx/Air fan running while we're away rather than run A/C for the same reason: If the A/C would fail, the TT could become an oven, just like a car with the all the window up and kitty could become sick (or even die) from the opressive heat.

I do think it's better to move a pet into the trailer rather than leave it in the TV. Trailers, at least, have some insulation against heat (and cold). I also think you would be less likely to be slapped with an unattended pet violation because a pet would be harder to be seen it inside a trailer than in the TV.

In some ways, I think I'm answering my own question here, but that's what there forums are for- to discuss problems like this among ourselves in search of possible solutions.

[sky_watcher]

We have two sets of keys for our TV. If it is hot or cold, we leave the motor running, locking the doors with the second set of keys, while we eat, shop, whatever. We have a fifth wheel that affords our schnauzer no place to go with the slides in. She could get to the bedroom, but we put all our computer photographic processing equipment in the bed. There is simply no where for her to go. And in the middle of summer, the trailer is impossibly hot. No, we'll leave Miss Abigail in the truck where she's cool and comfy.

I guess I don't understand why it would be better for the pet to be hidden away in an overly hot or cold trailer than to leave the TV running. The insulation you speak of isn't sufficient to keep an animal comfortable when going down the road. Think about how long it takes for your trailer to cool down/heat up to temperature when you get parked.

[Bill Adams]

The rule of thumb is if you leave the coach the pets need to leave the coach if it's hot and no A/C is available. I would say Period! but I won't. Please know that I am thinking it, and it's the right thing to do, but YMMV. How much do you care about those guys?

[mick]

MAYBE the best answer lies in getting a generator !

[LindaH]

When we stop to take a bathroom break, our dog gets out of the truck, too, since he probably also needs to take a bathroom break and stretch his legs.

If we're going to be gone longer, like for lunch, we'll put him in the fifth wheel. If it's warm outside, we'll open a window and turn the Fantastic Fan on. We've been traveling with our dog in this manner since 1996 and have never encountered a problem. We don't, however, travel in areas that have extreme weather (like the Southwest during the summer or the northern states in the winter).

[Cousin Ed]

Two sets of keys is really the easiest solution.

[Wayne M]

In some states it is against the law to leave an unattended vehicle running. (The animal does not count for being attended.)

[Seajay]

If you have a travle trailer I would say it would be safe to leave your pets inside with plenty of water down for them. Open windows for cross draft ventilation and open you top vents and turn on your fan over the stove it you have one. It would take a looooooooong time for them to get too hot unless you have a really small TT and you are in Death Valley in the summer time. Also. PUT ICE IN THEIR WATER IN THE WATER DISH. this will really help ... Our dogs just love ice cubes and they will lick them if you put them in a ''dish'' for them..

Since I love dogs all this valuable information is FREE. (I usually charge ten cents but I never charge for dog stuff or ''Love questions'' from old people)

Thank a vet for your freedom........ They earned it for you at the risk of their life. Too many earned it WITH THEIR LIFE..... think about it ...