Moose the dog has earned himself a few upgrades!
After logging more than 24 flights and an estimated 10,000 miles, this 1-year-old Maltipoo has officially been named JetBlue Airways's Most-Traveled Pet in 2010. Just how did Moose end up being such a frequent flier?
Moose's owner, Jamie Griebner, currently studies law at Boston's Suffolk University, but she made frequent visits – with her puppy – to her hometown of Buffalo, N.Y., about 400 miles away.
"Over the summer, we racked up all the trips," Griebner tells PEOPLEPets.com. "I went home to Buffalo just about every weekend. His first trip was at 2 months old to go back to Buffalo and meet my whole family."
Perhaps it was the early introduction to flying, but Griebner says that she and Moose have never had a bad experience. Before boarding any flight, she always makes sure to take Moose for a long walk to expend his excess energy, and packs a bone for him to chew. Even when he isn't quite ready to fly, Moose's cuteness often leads others to want to help out.
"One instance, he was a little antsy before he got on the flight," Griebner says. "I was sitting down in one of the JetBlue terminals just having a bite to eat. I was sitting at the bar, and the bartender saw that I was sitting with Moose, and he brought him over some oyster crackers."
Moose's appeal doesn't stop there. "They love him," she says of his popularity with flight attendants and passengers alike. "When I take him out of the bag at security, they all ask to pet him."
And while the budget airline doesn't have seats in First Class, Moose is still getting a few treats for his loyalty. He and Griebner will be flown from Boston to L.A.'s Hotel Palomar, where they will be the guests of honor during a special Yappy Hour.
In honor of National Pet Month, JetBlue's JetPaws program is sponsoring a contest for another lucky pet owner and his or her furry friend to enjoy a getaway just like Moose's. From May 4-8, for every photo posted on Twitter with the hashtag #JetPaws, the airline will donate $2 to Cesar Millan's animal charity, The Millan Foundation. The winner gets a two-night stay at L.A.'s Hotel Palomar of their own!
Read more fun animal stories on PEOPLEPets.com:
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