Bone Voyage! PETA Shares Tips for Safe Summer Travel with Canine Companions

For Immediate Release:
June 11, 2026

Contact:
Andrew Grant 202-483-7382

With summer vacation season around the corner, PETA is sharing tips to help travelers plan safe getaways with their dogs—who thrive on companionship and new experiences, but rely on their guardians to keep them safe during warm-weather adventures. From avoiding common summer hazards to finding the perfect animal-friendly accommodations, here’s how to ensure every trip is a tail-wagging good time for the entire family:

Road-Trip Readiness

• Bring food, water, bowls, medications, leash, bedding, a favorite toy, waste bags, and a first-aid kit—and save the number of a local emergency vet at your destination. Ensure dogs are microchipped and wearing legible ID tags with current contact information (or invest in a GPS tracker collar, like those from Fi or Tractive). Be sure to schedule frequent “sniff breaks” along your route—not just potty stops—to let them explore and decompress, reducing anxiety during travel.
• Never leave dogs in parked vehicles. Even on a 75-degree day, the temperature inside a car can soar to 94 degrees in just 10 minutes. Dogs can suffer heatstroke and die quickly, even with windows cracked or the car parked in shade.

Adventure Awaits: Dog-Friendly Destinations

• Many campgrounds welcome dogs and offer ideal settings for hiking, swimming, and bonding under the stars—but watch out for blue-green algae in lakes and ponds, which can be fatal if ingested.
• Found the perfect dog-friendly beach? Be sure to bring fresh water, shade, and paw protection, as sand can become scorching hot. If dogs go for a dip, watch closely to ensure they don’t drink any salt water—even small amounts can lead to toxicity—and rinse them off with fresh water afterward to remove salt water and sand, which can cause irritation.
• Not all hotels or vacation rentals accept dogs, so verify policies before booking. BringFido.com offers listings of animal-friendly lodgings, restaurants, events, and more.

Flying the Friendly Skies? Take Precautions

• Air travel may seem like the quickest and least stressful option, but it can turn out to be the opposite if animals are forced to fly in the cargo hold, which can be extremely dangerous—and even fatal. Some airlines allow animals to travel in the main cabin, so check before making reservations.

“Dogs love exploring new places with their families, but a dream vacation can quickly turn into a nightmare without proper planning,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA urges anyone hitting the road with a canine co-pilot during the dog days of summer to always put their safety first.”

PETA reminds guardians to be mindful of the heat when heading out in warm weather. Walk dogs only during cooler parts of the day, sticking to grass or shaded paths whenever possible, and watch for heatstroke symptoms—including heavy panting, excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty walking, seizures, or collapse. If symptoms appear, move the dog to shade or air conditioning, offer water, wet them with room-temperature water, and call a veterinarian immediately.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someoneand offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.orgor follow PETA on X,Facebook, or Instagram.