Puppy Travel is pet project for founder

At times, Barbara DeBry is man's best friend's best friend.

As founder of Puppy Travel, a full-service travel agency for pets and people, DeBry gets motoring mutts, flying ferrets and traveling tabbies to their proper destinations.

Snips and snails aside, DeBry has plenty of puppy-dog tales.

Like those of people who study overseas but have been smitten, rather than bitten, by an animal and want to get it stateside. Or military folks or corporate executives reassigned halfway around the globe who want to take that special family member with them. Or folks looking to crisscross the country, unleashing their interest in travel while letting Fido tag along.

"Every one of them," DeBry said, "has a story."

Their stories often begin at the Salt Lake agency's Web site, www.puppytravel.com. While several Web sites offer tips and detailed information about

pet travel, Puppy Travel coordinates airline, hotel and car rental reservations; identifies pet-friendly restaurants and parks; and arranges for pet sitters and local veterinarians for both domestic and international travel.

DeBry charges a consulting fee on a scale based on complexity, but often it's about $200 for domestic travel and $300 for international. While many of her early clients were leisure travelers, she now works often with military, government or corporate types whose work has been moved offshore. That's when she taps into both her love of pets and more than two decades of experience in the travel industry.

"They don't have the time, and there are too many details," DeBry said about clients and their travel needs. "The last thing you want is for your animal to be held somewhere and you can't get it. With security the way it is, the way the world is, why even bother with it? It can either go as smooth as silk or it can be a nightmare."

The nightmares can start even before the pets board a plane. For example, try finding a grassy area at the airport if a pet needs "relief" when a flight is delayed. But the complexity of pet travel multiplies as one considers individual airlines' and countries' pet limitations and paperwork; complete blockouts during extreme temperatures; and various charges for pet accommodation.

For example, most airlines allow a canine companion or feline friend to be placed under a seat if the kennel or carrier fits there, but many limit the number to two per aircraft. All others are checked or fly as cargo — don't worry, DeBry said, those compartments are pressurized and temperature-controlled.