Can pilot's have pets?

[Lear2460]

So, who has pets, and who does not. I am not talking about girlfriends here, either.

I currently have a Moluccan Cockatoo, a African Grey Parrot, a Jack Russell Terrier, and a English Mastiff. I am finding traveling to be extremely difficult as of late. The parrots are pretty self-serving, other than their attention needs, but the DOGS are a totally different subject.

If I travel, they either come with (and you can imagine..hauling a 130# 7 month old English Mastiff in the back of a new Mitsubishi Eclipse ) me, which is a total work out, or, I pay about $20 a day at a boarding kennel. They are like my kids though, and love having them around, no matter the crap that comes with them.

So, what do you guys/gals have a pets, if any? How do you travel having animals.....?? I am beginning to think if I want to travel and fly, I cannot have animals too. I guess I have to give one thing up to get another.

Just wondering......

CHEERS!!!

 

[saabcaptain]

There is nothing in the world I want more than a dog since I grew up in a family with a dog my whole life but my wife and I simply can't do it now. With my lifestyle of 4 days away from home at a time and my wife's 4 day a week, 10 hour a day schedule it would be just wrong for a dog. Maybe when we have kids and they are old enough to help care for a dog, or when my wife's schedule changes.

Right now we have a Parrot, a Pacific Parrotlet, which between the two of us isn't a problem at all and he gets plenty of attention.

 

[wil]

I have had my 9 1/2 year old Golden Retriever since she was 6 weeks. I love my her so much and it kills me to be on the road away from her! My wife (her mother since Brittany was 4 1/2) takes care of her while I'm away- it is a team effort. When I flew freight I knew some pilots who took their dogs along. It really helps if you have a significant other to help out! By the looks of your avitar that should not be a problem All the best- Wil

PS- You don't have to choose one or the other. My First Officer a few months back only flies "naps" because he has a dog. Duty in at 815pm done by 7am. Our nap lines are 3 on 2 off for the most part. Also, if you work 3 on, 4 off for a regular line you could have a sitter who comes to your house 3 x per day, picks up mail, takes care of dog, waters plants. I did that before the "significant other".

 

[Airpiraterob]

it would seem the way to go is to get a girlfriend that loves dogs and get her to take care of the thing while youre gone....and when the wife is out working.

 

[njcapt]

Only beacuse my wife works from home have we been able to properly raise Duke and Barney (two Beagles). We got them while she was home a lot, so their first two years were well supervised. I would not expect to raise a well mannered dog without someone home most of the time (the same way I feel about kids, which is why we aren't having any).

 

[Typhoon1244]

Five cats. God help me.

 

[bigD]

Five cats. God help me.

Holy crap, how did you get talked into that one? I already get attitude from my girfriend - I don't need attitude from some stupid cat either!

 

[Blue Dude]

Two cats, a dog and a three month old little boy, in seniority order. When my wife worked (before the munchkin) and I was gone, our dog patrolled the house and kept the cats in line, but we knew he wasn't happy being alone for long. My wife is a stay at home Mom now and that seems to work better. Of course, if you tell her she doesn't work now, be prepared to duck. I think she's got a lot more to do now than before, and part of that is keeping our puppy entertained.

 

[flint4xx]

Don't give up on your animals. Hire a pet sitter.

 

[TXCAP4228]

Five cats. God help me.

HOLY COW!

Don't you also have 2 kids?

That's a handful!

 

[Typhoon1244]

Holy crap, how did you get talked into [having five cats]?

They're all critters that were unwanted for one reason or another. It's actually not bad...they're very low maintenance. We used to have a daschund, but with my wife working 9-5 and me flying four days a week, potty training was a bastard. She lives with my folks now...the daschund, that is.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Dont get a dog unless someone can give them the exercise/attention they really need!

 

[NuGuy]

Hi all,

I know that there is a strong anti-cat faction out there...I guess if one felt emotionally insecure about not receiving slavish attention from one's pet 24/7, I might see their point, but anyway...

You can have one or two cats in a house or 1000 sq ft apartment, and they are perfectly happy when you arn't around (and, in fact, may prefer it that way). Fill up the litter box, and leave two of those 7 day feeders (one for water, another for food) and you are good to go (don't forget to leave the AC/heat going).

More than two cats and the mess goes up with the square of the number of cats (IE 3 cats = 9 times the mess).

You might have a friend or relative stop in just to check, but cats are remarkably independent, and do very well on their own. They will only eat what they need (unlike dogs), they will drink out of the toilet bowl if they have to, and will poop/pee reliably in an easily cleanable box (the new litters make cleaning them once every 4-5 days acceptable if you live alone). Still, they know who feeds them, and they provide more "pet" than a bird, lizzard or fish.

Like almost all cats, mine likes to eat bugs, lizzards and other creepy crawlies, so in that respect, she earns her keep. She's indoor only, so I avoid the occational skewered rodent on the doorstep, but I have found a lizzard or two that have had the air let out of them.

Best part about a cat is a vast assortment are available at your local ASPCA/Animal Rescue. Low maintenence, and the older ones have already had their shots/house trained/been fixed. Almost zero capital investment for a nice buddy.

Best.
Nu

 

[bssthound]

Take a wild guess as to what my wife and I have at home. We have a dog walker who comes at least once a day. I'm flying day lines this month so I'm home a good bit of every day. We adopted him from the Dallas area Basset Hound Rescue. His 74 year-old owner died suddenly. Type in your favorite breed of dog or cat along with the state you live in and the word rescue. You'll more than likely find a rescue organization with a good selection that are up for adoption for various reasons. Like I said, Boomer's owner died suddenly. I picked him up when I had a stretch of five days off. By the second day he knew he was home.

 

[Q200_FO]

My dumb cat just got himself fleas. Anyone want him?

 

[Vector4fun]

One house cat. Period.

However, my wife also feeds a small herd of deer, a squadron of hummingbirds, and another two squadrons of finches and cardinals. Oh yeah, and there's some wild ducks that come up from time to time to scarf up the deer corn.

Fine with me, they take care of themselves when we're gone.....

 

[bobbysamd]

Pilot's pets

I have a housecat. The cat I had before him moved with me six times to five states during his 14 years of life.

Cats are clean and independent, and really ask for very little. Provide food, water, a catbox, and a place to sleep, and that's all they really want. Of course, they require their shots and vet care from time to time.

 

[Typhoon1244]

...my wife also feeds a small herd of deer, a squadron of hummingbirds, and another two squadrons of finches and cardinals. Oh yeah, and there's some wild ducks that come up from time to time to scarf up the deer corn.

Do you live in the Enchanted Forest or what...?

 

[NuGuy]

Re: Pilot's pets

I have a housecat. The cat I had before him moved with me six times to five states during his 14 years of life.

Cats are clean and independent, and really ask for very little. Provide food, water, a catbox, and a place to sleep, and that's all they really want. Of course, they require their shots and vet care from time to time.

Hiya Bobby,

Yup, the cat I had before was 13 when he passed on. I had gotten him out of a box labeled "free kittens" at the airport where I worked, and he had been everywhere with me through 7 moves. A more mellow soul you would never find.

My current cat I got from the Animal Rescue people. She's as different as night and day, but a wonderful companion.

Best,
Nu

 

[Vector4fun]

Do you live in the Enchanted Forest or what...?

Ummm, you could call it that. It's a wooded acreage subdivision outside of AUS, along the Colorado River. Small pond out back.



I also didn't mention the copperheads and armadillos. The copperheads are about extinct on my lot, but me and the armadillos are still at war, and it's a draw so far.

(For those that don't know, armadillos in your yard is like having a pack of gophers from hell.....)