Illustration for TIME by Nila Aye

By SHIRLEY BRADY

Dog-owners are a breed apart. Madonna takes Chiquita, her Chihuahua, on the Concorde; actress Meg Ryan's Yorkie, Gus, is a favored guest at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago; and country crooner Shania Twain will only sleep in a hotel room that passes the sniff test of Tim, her German Shepherd. With owners so devoted, the travel industry increasingly is hustling to cater to animal needs, and not just those of privileged pooches. The trend began in the U.S., where about half of all hotels welcome pets, meeting the needs of the 53% of the country's 58 million pet-owners who vacation or travel annually with their beloved in tow.

Most international airlines now accept pet passengers, provided the animal has a clean bill of health (and a certificate to prove it) from a vet. Northwest has a Priority Pet Program, and Delta Airlines has a VIP (Very Important Pet) scheme. Cute names aside, if you think airlines are getting stricter about carry-on luggage (and they are), then wait until you inquire about flying with Fluffy. Carriers abide by the International Air Transport Association's regulations on live animals, a safety-first policy to promote the humane treatment of animal (and human) passengers. IATA stipulates tight controls on in-cabin pets (if they are older than eight weeks, under a certain size and in an approved carrier, they can qualify as a piece of your carry-on baggage and be stowed under your seat; otherwise, Fifi goes into the cargo hold). Each airline has its own pet-icular policy, so ask around. Singapore Airlines, for instance, allows pets in cargo only, and prefers long-haul travelers to fly direct in non-peak periods. In Asia, there are other considerations in making flight arrangements for your pets, like quarantine regulations in certain countries, so check with your vet and local immigration department about your itinerary.

The industry leader in flying non-humans--from dolphins to rhinos--is KLM, which in 1924 became the first airline to ship an animal when Nico, a prize bull, flew from Rotterdam to Paris. KLM also runs a 24-hour "animal hotel" at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, the only one of its kind, with veterinary-trained staff and areas to eat, play and sleep. Its website at www.petstravel.klmcargo.nl offers good advice for preparing air-bound animals.

The swankiest in animal accommodations has to be the Soho Grand Hotel in New York. It is owned by Hartz, purveyor of pet products, so it's not surprising the hotel includes amenities such as in-room kennels and dining for pets, walking services, toys, treats, pillows, toothbrushes and toothpaste, cat-litter pans, grooming and an on-call vet. The staff will even give you a goldfish if you arrive pet-less. Take a cyber-peek at www.sohogrand.com or call 1-212-965-3000 to book a room (from $369/double). You can also check out www.petswelcome.com and www.traveldog.com for more about creature comforts on offer at (mostly U.S.-based) pet-friendly hotels.

R E L A T E D   L I N K S :

Four Seasons Hotel:
  http://www.fshr.com
Northwest Airlines:
  http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/features/fe_qanda.html#pets
Delta Airlines:
  http://www.delta-air.com
International Air Transport Association:
  http://www.iata.org
Singapore Airlines:
  http://www.singaporeair.com

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