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VACATION TIME WITH GOLDIE
by Sheila Powers
(Originally published in the July/August 1997 issue of GRREAT News)
Summer time is upon us once again and we are contemplating what to do on our vacation.
There are many ways to spend your vacation, but when you are a dog owner you must take
them into consideration also. There are several options for Goldie when you plan a
vacation.
Boarding Kennels
The first option is a boarding kennel. Here are several tips on how to find a boarding
kennel where Goldie may be reasonably comfortable while you are vacationing.
Ask fellow dog owners where they board their own pets. Your vet's office may also have a
recommendation based on its experience.
Once you have chosen a kennel, visit the facility before you make a reservation for a
stay. While you are there, be sure to observe the cleanliness of the entire facility. As a
visitor, you should be allowed to visit all areas of the facility. If you are not allowed
to physically enter an area, you should at least be allowed to view it through a window
The facility should not have a heavy disinfectant smell; the operators my be covering an
underlying problem
Ask questions about the supervision of the animals. How often does someone make a full
check of the kennel runs? Is there someone on-site 24 hours a day and 7 days a week,
including holidays?
Consider the enclosure your dog will be housed in. Your dog should have regular or free
access to an outside kennel run. Do not use a facility that cages the dog and promises
regular walks—they just don't happen.
Members of the kennel staff should be knowledgeable about dogs and truly like workbag
with them.
The kennel should require all incoming animals to have current vaccinations against
rabies and other common contagious diseases like parainfluenza-bordatella (kennel cough).
Do not be upset that the vaccinations are required—it is for your dog's protection as
well as for others'.
The kennel should have arrangements for veterinary care to be available quickly. It is
important that you provide any emergency information regarding your pet to the staff, and
be sure your pet is wearing an identification tag.
Finally, be sure the boarding kennel is licensed. Also, look for the logo of the
American Boarding Kennels Association—it's a sign of good business.
The first option is a boarding kennel. Here are several tips on how to find a boarding
kennel where Goldie may be reasonably comfortable while you are vacationing.
Ask fellow dog owners where they board their own pets. Your vet's office may also have a
recommendation based on its experience.
Once you have chosen a kennel, visit the facility before you make a reservation for a
stay. While you are there, be sure to observe the cleanliness of the entire facility. As a
visitor, you should be allowed to visit all areas of the facility. If you are not allowed
to physically enter an area, you should at least be allowed to view it through a window
The facility should not have a heavy disinfectant smell; the operators my be covering an
underlying problem
Ask questions about the supervision of the animals. How often does someone make a full
check of the kennel runs? Is there someone on-site 24 hours a day and 7 days a week,
including holidays?
Consider the enclosure your dog will be housed in. Your dog should have regular or free
access to an outside kennel run. Do not use a facility that cages the dog and promises
regular walks—they just don't happen.
Members of the kennel staff should be knowledgeable about dogs and truly like workbag
with them.
The kennel should require all incoming animals to have current vaccinations against
rabies and other common contagious diseases like parainfluenza-bordatella (kennel cough).
Do not be upset that the vaccinations are required—it is for your dog's protection as
well as for others'.
The kennel should have arrangements for veterinary care to be available quickly. It is
important that you provide any emergency information regarding your pet to the staff, and
be sure your pet is wearing an identification tag.
Finally, be sure the boarding kennel is licensed. Also, look for the logo of the
American Boarding Kennels Association—it's a sign of good business.
Take Your Pet With You
Take Your Pet With You
A second option is to take your pet on vacation with you— about
5.4 million Americans do this annually. This may not necessarily be the best plan,
particularly in hot weather. Many dogs do not travel well and, unfortunately, dogs are not
welcome in many places. However, if you are planning to take your dog with you, by all
means call ahead to find out whether he or she will be a welcome guest at your
destination.
Several publications dedicated to travel with pets can help you select accommodations
along the way or destinations that actually cater to pets.
- The Furry Traveler
is a newsletter published right in our local area by Dahlia
Neiss, who maintains a computer database of over 75,000 pet-friendly getaways in the U.S.
and Canada, including many in Virginia, Maryland, and even the District of Columbia. The
reviews in the newsletter are written from the view points of two large dogs, a German
Shepherd and a designer-dog retriever mix, the point being that if a. place takes dogs
this size, it will also cater to the beagles and shihtzus of the world. Although The
Furry Traveler is not an actual travel agency, subscribers to the newsletter can
contact Neiss for up to date suggestions for accommodations in specific locations, as well
as tips on how to travel with pets. Subscriptions to the bimonthly newsletter are $25 per
year. The Furry Traveler can be contacted on the Internet at furrytrvl@aol.com; by mail at
P.O. Box 30104, Bethesda, MD 20824; or by phone at (301) 495-4823.
- DogGone
is a another bimonthly newsletter that describes itself as being "about
neat places to go and cool things to do with your dog," such as leash-free zones,
dude ranches and destinations for 'fisherdogs.' A yearly subscription is $24. To order,
call (407) 569-8434, or write DogGone, P.O. Box 651166, Vero Beach, FL 32965- 1155.
- In the realm of travel guides, Dawn and Robert Habgood, the owners of two Golden
Retrievers, have produced a series of guides entitled Frommer's On the Road Again with
Man's Best Friend. The editions published so far include Mid-Atlantic, New England,
Southeast and West destinations. These guides, published by Howell Book House at $14.95
each, are available in many bookstores.
- Another travel guide, mentioned in previous issues of GRREAT News is Pets-R-Permitted,
a directory of hotel, motel, kennel and pet sitter listings and other advice for
travelling with or without your pet. This resource book is available for $11.95 by writing
to Pets-R-Permitted, P.O. Box 3930-I, Torrance, CA, 90510-3930, or by calling
800-274-7297.
Pet Sitters
The third option is the one I consider the best. A live-in house- and pet-sitter is a
perfect solution for most households. A person who is familiar with your home and pets
stays in your home while you are gone. You have the security of knowing that both your
home and pets are being well cared for by someone who cares about them. You can relax on
your vacation knowing that your newspapers are being brought in, your plants are being
watered, and your pets are comfortable in familiar surroundings.
The third option is the one I consider the best. A live-in house- and pet-sitter is a
perfect solution for most households. A person who is familiar with your home and pets
stays in your home while you are gone. You have the security of knowing that both your
home and pets are being well cared for by someone who cares about them. You can relax on
your vacation knowing that your newspapers are being brought in, your plants are being
watered, and your pets are comfortable in familiar surroundings. |
