For years, Carel Callahan Bainum has sought to find good homes for dogs and cats that otherwise would have been euthanized. It’s always been an effort to find the best fit for what she hopes will be a long-lasting relationship.

Now Bainum is looking for someone who can take responsibility of a dog – a small dog, too – for about eight hours. That’s it, just eight hours.

She’s not asking that this person love dogs, although Dugan can be lovable. She’s not asking that they cuddle or pet Dugan or, in fact, that they do anything with Dugan. Except for one thing.

Bainum is looking for a traveling companion for Dugan, someone who will take him in his carrying case on a flight to Seattle. That’s it, a companion for whatever it takes to fly to Seattle.

You see, Bainum has already found a home for Dugan, an 8-year-old Chihuahua mix whose attributes are just what a friend of Bainum living in Mt. Vernon, Wash. needs. Dugan is friendly, that’s for sure, but he sure can sound fierce.

It’s Dugan’s watchdog qualities that interest her friend.

“He’s the sweetest thing ever, but he’s not a guard dog,” Dominique Maillet said of the golden lab presently owned by her grandmother, Jennifer Maillet. Dominique, who lives with her grandmother, was here last week visiting Bainum and quickly bonded with Dugan. The fact that he barks at strangers, even displaying a set of tiny teeth, is an added benefit.

Returning with Dugan seemed a natural. Her grandmother would get a watchdog; Dominique would have a new canine companion and Dugan would have a great home.

However, there was one hitch that Bainum has not been able to surmount. In order for Dugan to make the flight, an adult must accompany him and Dominique is only 14.

“I bugged the airlines for an exemption, but they wouldn’t budge,” said Bainum. “All we need to do is find an animal lover who can set us up.”

With one daily flight between Boston and Seattle, Bainum figures there’s got to be somebody who would be making the trip, or knows somebody who would. She would make sure Dugan is delivered to Logan and ensure the pickup at the other end of the trip.

So now, Bainum, who has been advertising for years to find good homes for cats and dogs, is now looking for a fellow traveler for Dugan. She can be reached at 737-4080.