Doctors Foster and Smith and Midwest Airlines
Doctors Foster and Smith and Midwest Airlines join forces to make pet travel a cinch
New Partnership Gives Pet Owners the Guidance and Goods
That Make Airline Travel with Pets both Fun and Easy
Rhinelander, WI (9/2/08) -- When equipped with the right information and tools, airline travel with pets can be as simple as a walk in the park. That’s why leading pet supplies retailer Doctors Foster and Smith has joined with Midwest Airlines, creator of the groundbreaking Premier Pet Program, to establish a one-stop resource that helps people and pets traverse the skies with ease.
Is air travel safe? Does my pet need special travel documents? What kind of travel kennel is required? These are some common questions people have when it comes to bringing four-legged friends on a trip. David Frei, the voice of the Westminster Dog Show who travels with 2008 Best in Show-winning beagle “Uno,” knows that the right tools and picking the right airline are important, too.
“Uno and I have traversed the country this year, and Midwest Airlines has made flying with Uno simple” Frei said. “It’s great to see that the experts at Midwest Airlines have now joined with the animal experts at Doctors Foster and Smith to lend their experience and guidance to pet parents wishing to bring their faithful friends along on trips.”
Answers to the questions many people have about flying with pets can now be found at DrsFosterSmith.com/MidwestAirlines. This informative webpage was created by Doctors Foster and Smith’s animal experts, who have years of personal experience traveling with pets, and the staff at Midwest Airlines responsible for developing the Premier Pet Program. As part of the partnership, Doctors Foster and Smith has identified nearly 30 premium pet products that can prove handy when flying with pets. Some of the items are even branded with the Midwest Airlines Premier Pet Program signature, including an over-the-shoulder travel bag, a Sherpa Roll-Up air travel carrier and airline pet crate.
“Midwest Airlines is synonymous with ’The best care in the air’ for customers and their pets,” said Doctors Foster and Smith Program Manager Matt Stelter, who travels the country as a professional handler of Best in Show and National Specialty-winning collies. “The airline has been a leader in making sure customers can travel with their pets in comfort and with confidence. Doctors Foster and Smith is the most trusted name in retail pet products and is recognized for providing reliable pet care advice. Together we have formed an initiative that will help pets and people travel with ease and assurance.”
Susan Kerwin, coordinator of the Midwest Airlines Premier Pet Program and breeder/owner/handler of champion English setters, said, “We’re pleased to partner with Doctors Foster and Smith, the pre-eminent name in pet care and education. Our combined expertise will help both Midwest customers who travel with their pets and pet owners in general by providing superior travel products and advice on pet air travel.”
An important part of this partnership will be the creation of helpful pet travel columns researched and written by animal experts at both Doctors Foster and Smith and Midwest Airlines. In addition to advice on pet travel basics, guidance will be offered on simple practices that can help make every trip easy and pleasant. Some of the topics addressed at DrsFosterSmith.com/MidwestAirlines include:
- Training pets for air travel - Selecting a travel kennel or carrier
- Documents needed for pet travel - Scheduling a veterinarian visit prior to departure
- Pre-flight feeding advice - Picking the right airline for pet travel
- Exercising pets prior to departure - Flight check-in procedures
- Common myths and mistakes - Ways to relieve pet stress
Having the right tools on a trip can be just as important as being educated about pet travel. There are several products on the market that pet owners may find of great assistance, including:
- Dog Airline Accessory Kit that includes food cups, I.D. stickers and absorbent pad.
- Comfort Zone® Spray that reduces destructive behavior, barking and whimpering in dogs.
- Hydro-Go Pet Water Bottle & Bowl, which is a portable dog canteen with fold-out bowl.
- Doctors Foster and Smith Ultra-Calm® Biscuits to calm dogs in times of stress.
- Doctors Foster and Smith Thick Foam Crate Pads that add comfort to cages or crates.
For more information about pet travel and products, please visit DrsFosterSmith.com/ MidwestAirlines. Detailed information on Midwest Airlines’ Premier Pet Program can be found at midwestairlines.com. For information regarding a variety of pet care concerns, visit PetEducation.com, and be sure to watch for the second season of Doctors Foster and Smith’s Faithful Friends program on Animal Planet.
About Doctors Foster and Smith:
Doctors Foster and Smith, a privately owned company, is the #1 catalog and online seller of pet supplies and pharmaceuticals in the industry. Doctors Foster and Smith is known for empowering pet owners by providing extensive veterinarian-supported advice, proprietary information and quality pet products, serving millions of pet owners from coast to coast. Dr. Race Foster and Dr. Marty Smith have become the nation's foremost authorities on pet wellness, pet care and pet-owner education, earning an unmatched reputation for the scope of their veterinary expertise on dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles, pond life, small animals and equine. For more information, visit DrsFosterSmith.com and PetEducation.com.
About Midwest Airlines:
Midwest Airlines features jet service throughout the United States, including Milwaukee’s most daily nonstop flights and best schedule to major destinations. Catering to business travelers and discerning leisure travelers, the airline earned its reputation as “The best care in the air” by providing passengers with impeccable service and onboard amenities at competitive fares. More information is available at midwestairlines.com.