On the Road Again: Travels With My Service Dogs

Traveling with a dog can be a blessing and a challenge. photo: Bay Woof, AdobeStock

One of the silver linings of having a disability is that my service dog now gets to travel with me in the plane. But it hasn’t always been like this. 

My first Golden Retriever, Nicholas, was not a trained service dog. This was way back in 1982, and each summer we visited my family on Cape Cod for 10 days. Travel in those pre-911 days was simpler in many ways. But not if you wanted to fly with a household pet. 

Back then, I was required to buy a giant portable travel kennel to check Nicholas through as baggage. I knew there were risks.  But I was sure that 10 days of swimming, digging in the sand, and being spoiled rotten would be worth it for him. He was also the perfect buffer between me and my parents.

To keep him calm for the trip, I gave Nicholas half of a vet-approved tranquilizer and the porter a twenty dollar tip. Saying “Please take care of him,” I followed the cart as far as I could.  

As soon as I entered the plane, I let the flight crew know that my beloved Golden was in the cargo hold. Waiting for takeoff, I peered out the window, watching for his kennel to be loaded. And I smiled when the pilot announced, “For the gentleman with the Golden Retriever, we’ll take good care of him.”      

By the time I got my second Golden, Willy, things had changed. AIDS had decimated San Francisco, my own health had declined dramatically, and I’d lost my hearing in both ears from AIDS-related ear infections.  A friend guided me through the paperwork to have Willy officially classified by Sonoma County as an Assistance Animal. No more being checked through as baggage for this boy.

I was so nervous the first time Willy and I checked in for a flight with the ticket agent that I even brought along one of his stuffies just in case. Luckily, the agent was more interested in greeting Willy than anything else. As we waited in the terminal by the gate, Willy caused a sensation, rolling onto his back and holding his stuffie above his head. People were pointing and taking pictures. I acted as though nothing was out of the ordinary - and in fact, it wasn’t. It was just Willy being Willy. 

Morgan came next, my first rescued dog. We found a police officer who trained K-9s for Riverside County and, after a year of hard work, Morgan was awarded his Good Neighbor Certificate. More to the point, he also received his official service dog badge from Palm Springs Animal Control, making him travel ready. 

Thus began our many adventures with Morgan and not just on planes, but on buses, streetcars, subways, trollies, ferries, and even an RV.  We flew to Naples, Florida, and stayed at my in-laws house where we took Morgan for an early swim every morning. Florida sunsets were exquisite. Morgan and I sat together watching the sun disappear. 

Today we have Mr. Franklin, a 99-pound, cream-colored Golden who does not fit under a plane seat at all. Instead, we use travel points to reserve first class seats so he has room.  The flight attendants shower him with treats and attention making the other passengers jealous. Can you blame them?

We recently drove to Canada with Morgan, our first trip to another country. Given the current political situation, we weren’t sure how things would play out at the border. We also worried that perhaps we didn’t have all the necessary paperwork. 

When we arrived at the checkpoint, the border agent began asking us the usual questions - that is, until she glanced in the rear seat to see Franklin’s goofy smile. “What a handsome boy!” she exclaimed, as the conversation naturally turned to Franklin. We realized then that we might not have needed our passports at all, just a gorgeous Golden. “Well, gentlemen, enjoy your visit,” she said, waving us through.

Once in Canada, we lodged in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for two months to make a film. Nearby was an incredible reserve, Point Pleasant Park, which was totally dog friendly, including some trails that were even off-leash. We took Franklin there nearly every day. The weather was cold and windy, just the way Franklin likes it. His dads, not so much.

Dealing with disabilities is never fun, but having my beloved service dog with me makes up for a lot. These days, I can’t imagine traveling anywhere without a furry companion and I’m lucky to be able to do so.

Wherever we go, it’s always better with a dog along for the ride.