“There’s a saying. If you want someone to love you forever, buy a dog, feed it and keep it around.” – Dick Dale. One of the biggest challenges medical professionals might face when making the decision to travel is whether or not to bring along your pets. Whether you are a dog person, a cat person, or a combination of both, no one wants to leave their furry friends behind when taking a contract in another part of the country.
Before loading up the kennel and hitting the road, there are some things to consider when bringing your pet on a travel assignment.
Housing
Bringing your pet to your travel assignment could make your housing situation a tad bit tricky. There are many different rules and regulations in terms of what animals can be in short term housing; this not only varies between travel agencies, but different cities and states as well. These rules are primarily geared towards dogs and their weight or breed. Those factors could determine if the travel agency you are working with can provide you with housing or you have to find your own. Be sure to always be up front with your agency in terms of your pet.
Medical Needs
We all want the best for our furry friends. This means that their health comes first. When making the decision to travel with your pet, ensure that all of their medical needs are taken care of. Once you know where you are headed, check veterinarian facilities in the area of your contract. Before you head out, make sure that all of their shots are up to date and bring all medications your pets may need.
Work Schedule
Depending on your medical profession, you may be working longer shifts than typical 8-5 days. If you are working these longer shifts, make sure to take your pet into consideration. Consider the questions: How would “Rover” do in an unfamiliar home for long periods of time? Some pets may be perfectly comfortable in this situation, others may not. Bring along any toys or treats that they enjoy playing with to make them feel right at home.
Choosing to travel is a big decision; traveling with a pet makes that decision even bigger. Make sure to consider all of these factors before packing up the chew toys and heading to an assignment. We always want the best for our travelers and their pets as well.
Brady Garza is a Social Media Recruiter for the Therapy division of Aureus Medical Group.
A large part of our decision to travel in an RV was because of our dogs. They are much happier in our own home-on-wheels.