Nala, my red-nose Pit Bull, had no idea what was in store for her as she sat in the back seat of my parent's car and drove 2,015 miles from New Jersey to New Mexico in November 2021. I also had no clue what I was getting myself into, but I knew that I wanted her with me to travel the country together and share this incredible travel nursing journey. My mom in particular told me countless times that it would be too much work. "Who would take care of her while you worked your 12 hour shifts at the hospital?" she asked. I didn't have an answer for her but I knew I'd figure it out. I mean come on, have you SEEN my child?! If you've been lucky enough to even come close to her energy, her spice, and her loving soul, then you'd understand my obsession. Just two months shy of turning 1, Nala made it to me in Albuquerque, NM (praise be!) and the rest was history! Fast forward to almost two years later, we have lived in 6 homes, 2 different states, and have made countless memories along the way. Being a dog mom within itself can be challenging and expensive, yet we endure it because we know that the love these fur babies give us is priceless. That being said, if you are a travel nurse and are considering bringing your pet along with you, I'd highly recommend considering these 5 things in order to make the best decision for you and your pet.
1. Housing
As a travel nurse, you are likely living in short term rentals, airbnbs, or hotels during your contract. Through my experience I realized that finding pet friendly homes was not impossible but it definitely came with a cost. Non refundable pet deposits or monthly pet fees is something you should consider when budgeting your housing expenses. Additionally, I was often challenged with breed restrictions in certain homes and because Nala is a Pit Bull, we came across this often. Luckily, I registered Nala as an Emotional Support Animal, which by law allowed her to live with me despite an apartment complex's pet policy. Registering your pet as an ESA is simple and only requires a one time fee. Having Nala with me as a puppy was also difficult. Her chewing phase cost me a pretty penny as she chomped through a screen door, a couch, and went through a remote control obsession. Yes, you read the correctly. Despite the endless amount of chew toys I bought her, I've had to replace at least 3 remote controls in the past year and a half :)
Is your pet house trained? Does it shed excessively? Can you trust him or her to not ruin furniture that is not yours? Can you reasonably budget the additional pet fee that you will likely encounter for housing? These are all questions you should ask yourself and consider.
2. Doggie Day Care/Dog sitters
It's important to be mindful that if you are travel nursing in the hospital setting and working 12 hour shifts, you will be gone for more than just 12 hours of the day. Some pets are OK being alone for that long but if you have a young pup like me who is high energy, requires tons of play, exercise, socialization, and walks during the day, then you'll want to look into dog sitters or daycare. In the past I've used the Rover app for sitters and have had great experiences with it. I've also had friends from work and the gym dog sit for me. You'd be surprised how many people would love to temporary care for a pet and are more than happy to do it. Depending on where your travel contract is, dog sitters and daycare can cost you on average anywhere between $25-$45/day. That's AT LEAST $300/ month you could be spending just on doggie day care and sitters (assuming you are contracted to work the typical 3 shifts a week schedule). Again, this cost will differ on the specific needs of your pet and where you live. I've met plenty of other travel nurses whose dogs do just fine being alone for 12+ hours a day. That has not been the case for Nala, so it was certainly something for me to take into consideration.
4. Travel agenda
If you're like me and want to use your time off to travel the world, you must also consider pet care, especially if you are going out of the country. Pet care for an extended period of time can take time to coordinate. Not to mention that you want to find someone you can trust and who understands your pet's behaviors/personality. Some animals also take time to warm up to other people and even though Nala warms up in a matter of seconds (to the right person), I still set aside time to make sure who ever is taking care of her understands her routine and behaviors. Our pets are our children and it has always been important to know that Nala is in good hands while I'm away. I have felt guilty leaving her behind but knowing she is being cared for by someone who I know will be loving and responsible with her has always brought me peace of mind.
3. Veterinary care and Emergencies
In the last two years that I've traveled with Nala we have dealt with skin allergies, sudden diarrhea, a paw infection, a UTI, anal glands bleeding, and most recently anaphylaxis (insert nervous smiley face emoji here). If you are not new to having a pet than you know that these emergencies happen, are unavoidable, and can be expensive. It is part of the cost of having a pet. This can be exponentially more difficult to deal with if you are traveling on your own. There have been a few times where I have had to call out of work to take care of Nala. Remember that as a travel nurse, if you don't work, you don't get paid (this includes that glorious tax-free meal and housing stipend). Are you traveling with a friend, partner, husband, or wife that can help you manage the unexpected emergencies that occur with pets? Or are you traveling solo? I've managed doing it on my own with some help of dog sitters but this has not been easy and has certainly brought in an element of stress.
Aside from preparing for the inevitable, we can't forget that our pets have to stay up to date with their vaccines and annual physicals. Having Nala in the Banfield Pet hospital system has been so convenient because I can essentially take her to any Banfield Hospital in the US. Though Nala has a wonderful vet at home, this has been a great option for us during our travels and I highly recommend it to any traveler. They also have a convenient wellness plan to help make those vet fees more affordable and even offer discount on things like tick and flea prevention!
Below is a pic of Nala's unknown bug site that sent her into a severe allergic reaction that required an emergency vet visit in downtown LA and multiple doses of benadryl and steroids (left pic). In Fresno, she developed an abscess in between her paw toes that needed to be drained and treated with antibiotics and pain medication (right pic). Middle pic is just one of my favorite pics of my girl :)
5. Moving anxiety and adjustment
Packing and moving is not only stressful for us humans. Dogs are incredibly intuitive and smart animals and what I've noticed is that every time I pull out a suitcase or start packing things up, Nala gets a lot more clingy and nervous. In the last two years we have moved 7 times and on average it takes Nala about a week to adjust to a new home and neighborhood. Like us, it takes time for our pets to get use to all the new sounds, smells, and environment of a different space. Again, every pet is different but this is something to consider. Does your pet have separation anxiety? Does it take them time to get use to other people and places? This transition can be made easier by spending more time with your pet in your new home. You may want to take this into account when going from one travel contract to another. Your pet may adjusts quickly, but asking yourself these questions before making the big move with your bestie is key in your planning!
Moral of the story....pets are expensive at baseline and travel nursing with your fur baby can certainly increase that expense. Every pet is different and assessing their own unique needs is important in deciding whether to take them along with you. Every travel nurses' goal is also different. Some want to travel for the experience while others want to hustle and pay off some debt. Some are putting their kids through college, saving for a down payment on a house or even getting towards retirement age and looking to retire earlier. What are your goals as you embark on this journey? Does having a pet with you align with those goals? Can you ensure that you will provide your pet with the care and best life that they deserve?
I did not know the financial sacrifice I had to make having Nala with me but I also have no regrets. I often look back on all the things we've done together in the past two years. We've ventured to countless coffee shops, restaurants, bars, dog parks, beaches, hiking trails, national parks, and cities. We've met some incredible people and dogs along the the way and have built solid friendships. At the end of the day, her happiness is what brings me the greatest joy and my primary goal in having her with me was to allow her to live her best life! Having her as my companion and protector is simply secondary. Years from now, I'll look back at this time we shared together and my heart will burst with happiness, perhaps even more than it does now, knowing we shared an experience of a lifetime. For me, there is no price tag you can put on that.
This blog post is of course dedicated to my daily dose of dopamine, my beautiful girl, travel companion, and best friend Nala. Thank you for being so selfless and enduring that long drive to be with me. Thank you for being my sunshine at the end of all my hard days. Thank you for your fierceness and always instinctively protecting me. Thank you for reminding me to be present, slow down, and take in every moment. Thank you for being the most loving girl, even to random strangers. Thank you for keeping me strong, active, and moving. I feel so grateful to call you mine and I cannot imagine this life without you. You've rescued me in so many ways and I'll never go a day without telling you how much you are loved. I promise to continue making sure you always live your best life and will savor every moment I get to spend with you by my side!
A special thanks to every dog sitter, friend, and neighbor that has helped me take care of my girl! It takes a village ya'll! I have so much gratitude for all your kindness and love. I could not have done it without you!
Stay tuned and follow me on instagram @fearlessemsantana as we embark on our next journey at the end of this month! This one is gonna be a BIG ONE! :)
Oh, and one more thing! Please consider donating to the ASPCA (click button below). This organization works hard to rescue, protect, and re-home animals and believe that by law, animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment. With all the natural disasters occurring in the US, animals often get left behind and the ASPCA helps with not only rescuing these animals but also reuniting them with their families. Your donation can make a BIG impact of the life of a little furry friend.
