Good companions

Men Zhou, 24, a pets' e-commerce worker in Foshan, Guangdong province, said her golden retriever Mao Mao has made traveling much more fun.

"Mao Mao sheds hair in the car, but while we listen to music, he listens to us talking. Life on the highway can be slow and relaxing at times. We rented an electric scooter, sitting him up front. When we stopped at traffic lights, he liked to lick the people waiting at them alongside us. It was quite adorable," Zhou said.

She and her husband once left the dog at home for a day or so. Whenever they checked on him through a surveillance camera, Mao Mao seemed lethargic and uninterested in eating or sleeping.

"He just waited for us to come back, which made us feel sorry for him, so we decided to start taking him with us whenever we went out," Zhou said, adding that they have traveled for a total distance of 5,000 kilometers with the dog in the car.

The couple bought probiotics and hemostatic powder to prevent Mao Mao experiencing stomach discomfort, loss of appetite due to environmental changes, or injuries from bumps in the road. They also packed essential daily items such as dog food, snacks, toys, collapsible bowls, water bowls, towels and shower gel in the car. And, of course, poop bags.

Zhou said they avoided peak travel periods and popular tourist attractions, opting instead for open areas. When booking hotels, they carefully chose those that explicitly allow pets. They also called in advance, as some hotels may charge additional cleaning fees for pets.

"It's not good for dogs to travel in extremely hot weather or rain, and Mao Mao doesn't like wearing a rainproof jacket. But despite these inconveniences, I know he enjoys traveling," Zhou added.

Tracy Bai, 29, who works in the games industry in Chengdu, Sichuan province, owns a 14-year-old border collie Yumi, a Siberian husky Winky, a snowshoe cat Kuang Kuang, and a 1-year-old Ragdoll cat. She wants to take her pets to every place she visits.

Bai and her husband take the two dogs whenever they toured, but only take the cats to less populated and quiet places, as cats are particularly sensitive to their environment.

The couple have many heartwarming memories — for example, accompanying Yumi to watch fireworks, and seeing the cats and dogs playing together in the rain.

"Besides food, other supplies and toys, we take specific items depending on the requirements for the trip, such as life jackets for playing in the water, and goggles and snow boots for the snow. I also take insect repellent, combs and ionized water for grooming. In addition, for the cats, I bring litter boxes, carriers and beds. It's no surprise that everyone says it's more troublesome to take a cat on a trip," Bai said.

"Taking pets traveling requires thorough preparation, such as making an itinerary and packing emergency supplies for unexpected situations. It's also important to behave responsibly during a visit to encourage the growth of pet-friendly accommodations."