Pet friendly?

[Miss Kitty]

We started out by offering alternatives to bringing Russell to the beach- had she exhausted all the possibilites? That didn't go well either.


I didn't ask for alternatives to bringing my dog to the beach, I asked for advice on where to stay.

"many of us felt that she may have been asking a bit much considering the info she shared about her pet."

How "many" of you are there???? I know that I don't have 4 bazillion posts on here, but why try to make me feel like the outsider?

under....please calm down for a minute. You may have taken offense when none was intended. No one here is an "outsider". This is a public board and all are welcome. I think you will agree that people here are very kind and helpful. I am not sure where this went wrong for you. I know you love your pet and I will tell you that I pass up all sorts of trips because I don't want to board my Molly. That's the price I pay for being a "worrywart" over my dog. For the record, I rent through WaterColor and I would not be able to allow pets because of my contract with them. I am not sure if others have the ability to allow dogs with their rental management. But, it is clear you have found some places that welcome dogs. BTW...no one loves dogs more than jdarg!!!

 

[Paula]

Blue Moon:

You have a point with kids. It's a problem when people who have dogs and don't pick up dog poop. It's also a problem when people let babies who aren't toilet trained in pools and do not put leakproof diapers on their babies. If a baby poops in a pool you have to close the pool for 24 or 48 hours which affects everybody. Whenever I worry about dogs, I hear the response about kids and I think it's a fair response. I had one guest who said in our cottage guest book, "Great news, our son was finally toilet trained while at your cottage!" Hmmm. And we still love renting to families and think that's cute.

I think it's the responsibility of owners of rental properties to let their guests know what is expected of them as pet owners/parents. Most people will live up to those expectations. This thread is reminding me to put up a note in the cottage reminding parents to put leakproof diapers/pants on non-toilet trained kids when they're at the pool.

So, let me say (since we can't read each other's faces or respond quickly to assumptions) that you sound like a great pet owner. And if I had a pet, I'd defend my pet as much as you defend your pet. Though I haven't had a dog and never wanted a dog, all this talk on these threads about how much people love their dogs is really tempting me to get a dog in a few years (a really small non-allergenic one)...

 

[iwishiwasthere]

Paula..I have just the breed for you! My children had serious allergies, and I had never considered an indoor pet. In a moment of weakness, I gave in and took a Bichon that a lady did not want....she said the dog did not bark enough. What a gift Maggie has been She came house broken and command trained. Doesn't shed but rather grooming is pricey if you want them to look good.

When and if you are ready, it is a good breed to consider....highly intelligent but very perky. Our second one does not have emotional issues, but I do believe she is ADD....cannot focus well....but still just precious.

 

[Paula]

Thanks. Several people have recommended the Bichon to me. So, perhaps I'll start thinking about that and figure out how a puppy/dog would fit in our lives. We do travel quite a lot because we have family we visit in California, Maine, Florida and Massachusetts -- and we like coming to FL, too, and I don't think we'd pay to bring the dog on all those flights. If I could figure out the travel, it would make the decision much easier. I was thinking about a year or two down the road, when the kids are still at home but old enough to help out with the dog and grow to love the dog. They'd be absolutely thrilled.

 

[iwishiwasthere]

Good points to think about when traveling. Most of our travels are by car, and the girls are very good riders. Pets are like children, they need to be wanted,not just a whim. And they do require quite a commitment. You will chose the right pet when you are ready..just let us know about it.

 

[Paula]

Yes, I'll definitely take my time on this decision (I'd guess about 2 years and maybe won't do it at all). But now I at least pay attention to people with little dogs and watch them as they walk them and play with them. Frankly, though, if there was a non-allergenic cat, I'd go for one of those right now -- we grew up with cats so I'm familiar with them as a pet.

 

[dbuck]

Dogs are definitely a commitment. We always had a dog when I was growing up, but it was an outside dog, and frankly I didn't pay much attention to it. So when my son wanted a dog, and I finally gave in to get one, everyone said get an inside dog so he will become part of the family. A dog in the house, but I forged ahead. Long story short, I love, love him. He truly is part of the family. Only one problem, he is a Boston Terrier, and they are so HYPER, he should be in a family with 4-6 boys.

 

[Beach Runner]

We like coming to FL, too, and I don't think we'd pay to bring the dog on all those flights. If I could figure out the travel, it would make the decision much easier.

My brother works for Delta. He says to avoid flying your dog unless there's absolutely no other alternative. When my sister moved from ATL to Dallas with her 3 dogs, he stayed with the dogs on the ramp until they closed up the baggage compartment. Then he had someone meet the dogs at DFW as soon as they opened the baggage compartment.

My sister still has 3 dogs and takes a private plane from Dallas to Ft. Walton so she can fly the dogs to the beach and not have to put them in the baggage compartment. Obviously, most people can't afford that alternative.

 

[Mermaid]

My brother works for Delta. He says to avoid flying your dog unless there's absolutely no other alternative. When my sister moved from ATL to Dallas with her 3 dogs, he stayed with the dogs on the ramp until they closed up the baggage compartment. Then he had someone meet the dogs at DFW as soon as they opened the baggage compartment.

My sister still has 3 dogs and takes a private plane from Dallas to Ft. Walton so she can fly the dogs to the beach and not have to put them in the baggage compartment. Obviously, most people can't afford that alternative.

You can avoid difficulties like the one you're mentioning by owning a dog small enough to fly up front with you. My friends have a second home in Tortola and they bring their King Charles spaniel with them all the time--and this is a trip involving 3 airplane rides. There is no way on earth that their fur baby has ever ridden baggage! Although she, like them, does ride commercial. ;-)

 

[Unplugged]

Point taken. But I have explained my situation with my dog. I'm not an irresponsible pet owner. I would NOT let my dog pee all over someone else's home. So to discuss me as though I'm not here, mentioning "that dog" and bringing my past post into it as tho i were trying to pull one over on some unsuspecting owner, that's just plain rude. Just ask me. Don't write about me like I'm not here reading and posting on the thread that I started.

Honestly, I don't know why I bothered. I simply came for some advice. Forget I asked. I'll find my own rental.

Underthebluemoon: you're right, things got a bit impersonal and off-track, as I've seen happen so often. I received the same treatment in an earlier thread a while back.

Back to the original question... I have PM'd you with some options.

Please accept my apologies for the tone in some of these posts. SJ has just summarized quite nicely (in post #34) mine - and I suspect those feelings of many others, who enjoy traveling with their pets. As Paula also stated, there is a unique etiquette among traveling pet owners and those who rent to them. You asked a simple question, and some proceeded to explain why you should instead, board your pet, which was not what you had originally asked.

Our experience as owners of pet-friendly rentals has been wonderful. I would even go so far as to say that our properties are in better condition than many other properties I've seen that are not pet-friendly. Maintenance issues have been non-existent for the most part, and certainly LESS then those times when small children are part of the equation. We love chidren too - and accept normal wear and tear as the cost of doing business.

I consider it a high compliment when pet owners rent with us. Those who travel with their pets and care enough to search out the very best accomodations possible so they can share the vacation with the 'entire' family are very special people indeed. These individuals have ALWAYS treated our properties with the utmost care - and certainly respect the beach ordinances that we communicate to them.

Mermaid: thanks for the mention in your earlier post. Underthebluemoon: best of luck to you!