A pet owner has sparked discussion online after sharing how she relocated her pet dog from the U.S. to London, England.
The 28-year-old American woman named Lauren had captured her beloved pet dog being placed in the baggage area of the airplane on which they had flown to the U.K. The video, shared under @laurentakeslondon on October 1, has amassed over 885,000 views and has led to viewers online voicing how worried they would be about their pets on long-haul flights.
The video, which had been filmed from Lauren’s window seat, focuses on her dog, who is securely crated, being placed into the baggage area of the plane by luggage handlers.
“Having your furry best friend with you in scary times >>>,” Lauren captioned her post.
“Practicing confinement in the crate that will be used for travel is very important,” Nicole Kohanski, a dog behaviorist and trainer told Newsweek.
She said that owners need to acclimatize dogs gradually to the crate, ensuring they associate it with safety and comfort.
“If you know how long your flight will be, set the target time in crate as flight time plus a few hours.”
The viral clip has sparked a wave of empathy among viewers online, with many sharing their own concerns about long-haul pet travel, particularly when dogs need to be placed in cargo.
“I would literally die from worrying about my baby,” one viewer said. “They must be so scared as it’s the coldest and loudest part of the plane.”
“My anxiety would be through the roof, I don’t think I could put them under the plane,” another added.
A third viewer said: “I could never do this, I would wonder the whole flight is my dog is fine…We need affordable pet airlines.”
Kohanski outlined several key aspects dogs will experience in flight that owners should prepare for: confinement, noise, and bumpiness.
While replicating pressure changes and temperature drops at home is challenging, Kohanski stressed the importance of making dogs comfortable with the situations that can be simulated.
“For confinement, we want our dogs to love the travel crate and be prepared to be confined for the flight duration plus some time for loading, unloading, and tarmac delays,” she said.
The trainer suggests using techniques like placing a rolled-up towel under a corner of the crate to simulate the bumpiness of flight turbulence. Taking the crate on car rides and playing aircraft sounds can also help dogs become accustomed to the noises they will encounter.
“Pair all of the components of air travel with something your dog loves,” she said. “Food works for most, and using something extra special makes an impact.”
Newsweek reached out to @laurentakeslondon for more information via TikTok.
A dog pulls out on a conveyor belt at an airport. A viral video of a similar pet being placed into the cargo of a plane has sparked discussion online.
Getty Images
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