NO, those cute pot-bellied pigs aren?t exactly what Philippine Airlines had in mind when it opened its doors to pets as flight passengers. Although PAL so far has received good reviews for its concern over the animals? safety on board, it does not allow small pets inside the cabin. They have to ride in the cargo.

Unfortunately for most pet owners, dedicated ?pet-travel agencies? and airlines are mainly based abroad, as the Google listing shows. Try Pet Travel (http:www.pettravel.com) which has been servicing pet owners for decades. It has comprehensive listings of hotels and airlines that cater to pets and pet owners.

Then there?s Pet Airways in New York, the product of a husband and wife team that believes the cargo hold isn?t where their dog belongs during a trip simply because, as most human companions would attest, the pooch isn?t cargo ? it?s family.