Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

With her pink fluffy collar accenting her seat-belt harness, Wink, a 4-year-old French bulldog, is set on a front seat by her owner, Bonnie Hughes. Hughes secures her with a specially designed harness that buckles into the car's seat belt for travel safety.

Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

Sadie, a 10-year-old golden retriever, licks her owner, Karen Raffa, on an outdoor bed at their Corrales home. Raffa and her husband bought an RV so Sadie can travel with them on their adventures across the country.

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Bonnie Hughes used to travel with four dogs several times each summer until one trip nearly cost one of her animals its life.

In 2005, after a 2-hour drive to Jack's Creek in the Pecos River area, Hughes' 8-year-old Neapolitan mastiff, Nimo, returned home with a twisted stomach after nervously pacing in the camper and gulping water excessively.

The net result: A dilated stomach and a $2,500 surgery, one that Nimo had only a 50 percent chance of surviving.

Fortunately, Nimo made it, but Hughes was discouraged by the whole experience. And vacations have never been the same, for both pet and owner.

"We decided our camping days and traveling days with the dogs were pretty much over," said Hughes.

Pet experts say vacation plans don't have to be put on hold and traveling doesn't have to be painful if the dog is properly trained - and if the owners are properly educated about the risks of long-distance sojourns with man's best friend.

Susan Reaber, dog trainer for Companion Dog Training in Albuquerque, said owners must prepare their animals for long trips.

"Problems might occur, maybe, if their dog isn't accustomed to being in the car or traveling long distances or they get too hot and are not getting enough water," Reaber said.

She added that when dogs encounter these problems, they start to act out. An out-of-place bark or whine should be telling owners something's not right.

Hughes, who lives in the North Valley, still takes her dogs around town. But the woman who says her pets are like her babies can't be convinced to take them on long trips. A "vacation" trip is usually to the vet or the park.

"My husband came back from a five-day trip, and I stayed home for the holiday (Memorial Day weekend)," she said. "We've had to cancel trips or one of us goes alone so the other can take care of the dogs."

Karen Raffa, owner of a 10-year-old golden retriever, has had a few mishaps traveling with her dog, but said they won't deter her from taking the dog on family trips.

Raffa, a program manager for the All Harley Drag Racing Association, takes her dog on vacation about 60 days a year because of her job.

Raffa said she's learned from experience that when traveling in an airplane with your dogs, it's vital to know where your dog is - and that its on the same flight.

The back story: In 2005, Raffa lost Sadie at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, one of the nation's busiest.

"They put her in a warmer climate-control area, and they didn't tell me," she said.

When Raffa got on the plane, her dog was in another location.

"I asked the co-captain, `Is there a golden retriever down there?' " she said.

The captain went down to check if Sadie was ready to fly. When he discovered the dog wasn't in the cargo hold, the flight was delayed.

After several anxious minutes, the co-captain returned to the plane.

"He gives me a thumbs-up," recalled Raffa, "and announces, `Miss Sadie is fine.' "

From her plane window, Raffa saw Sadie being carried out to the plane on a flat-bed cart. She said almost everyone in the plane applauded.

Raffa said she learned something from that incident: Always ask a member of the flight crew to make sure your pet is where it is supposed to be.

In Bonnie Hughes' case, traveling isn't much of an option because of Nimo's nervous condition. Hughes always knew Nimo was excitable, but didn't realize the extent of his discomfort.

Trainers say owners need to know their pets well enough to determine whether they can adjust to unfamiliar surroundings.

That's especially true in the summer.

"A lot of people take things for granted," Reaber said. "A lot of things happen when you're on the road or in a different city. It can be a hassle in a different place when you're not familiar with the state or the services your dog needs."

In many instances, "services" equates to veterinarians. Raffa said she's had a hard time finding medical care for Sadie in different states, but discovered the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Web site that offers a listing of vets.

"It gave me that peace of mind," she said.

Evi Fox, trainer and owner of Albuquerque Kanine Kollege, a dog-training company, said sometimes it helps to bring something familiar to the dog.

"I always take a sheet of mine and take it with me to put on his bedspread (in a pet-friendly motel)," she said.

Fox said she thinks any dog can learn to travel.

It just depends on the time and effort owners are willing to put into it, she said.

For her part, Hughes has listened to the tips and advice, but she's still skittish about trying another long trip with Nimo.

"We may take him up to the Sandias or Jemez for a hike, but we'd never do a major trip with him," she said. "He is 8 now, which is very old for his breed. And he is too neurotic."

For now - maybe forever - Nimo won't get to see Hughes' family cottage in Michigan.