even have a dog room service menu. Other
chains that take pets include Canopy Hotels
by Hilton, SureStay Hotels by Best Western,
and Even Hotels.
This list doesn’t even include the
thousands of privately-owned hotels and
motels you will fi nd wherever the road takes
you. Communication with management
is key, though; it’s never appropriate nor
courteous to attempt to sneak a dog in. And
remember, if you have more than one dog
in tow always let management know before
assuming if they take one dog, they’ll take
four.
‘Ruff ’-ing it
Camping with dogs is also an option that
can be a lot of fun, but there are additional
concerns that must be taken care of before
you jump in the car to “rough it.” Tent
sleeping is obvious less secure for a dog
who isn’t inclined to listen to their owner,
so sleeping through the night can be
harrowing for the humans involved. If you
plan on taking your dog camping, make
sure you are completely satisfi ed your dog
is trained enough to listen to you, even if a
wild animal or other distraction crosses their
path. If you’re from coastal Florida it’s easy to
forget about the threat of panthers, coyotes,
wolves, bears or
other predatory
animals, so
think about
it before you
fi nd yourself
in a tent with
a chihuahua
and hear heavy
footsteps
and growling
outside. It might
be best to allow
your pet some
time at a spa or
to stay at home with “Grandma” instead of
putting them in an unsafe situation.
It’s obvious you would want to take
adequate food and water for your pet for
a camping trip, but you also want to pack
a canine fi rst-aid kit. You can fi nd them
through Google or ask your veterinarian
what his or her thoughts are to set one up
yourself. They should include things like
a blood-clotting agent, bandages, wraps,
antiseptic wipes, tweezers, trauma scissors,
gloves … some even contain a one-use
sterile skin stapler.
If you plan on staying in a national or state
park, always check with the park rangers
before you pull up with a dog. Some parks
don’t allow them, and many don’t allow
them off-leash. You will be asked to leave if
you don’t follow the rules, so be prepared.
Don’t Alienate Your Host!
If your plan is to spend time with friends
or family along the way, make sure you
have a chat with them about your dog prior
to arrival. If they have pets, make sure to
ask if they are dog friendly. Ask if there is