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What you know before setting out on your travels with your pets can make or ruin your vacation.
First be prepared before your travel begins and making sure everything is in check before you leave home can be a lifesaver.
For many years the "NO VACANCY" sign was hung out for any pet no matter what type or size. In recent years things have dramatically changed in the hotel/motel industry.The travel industry has developed a pet friendly code not to many people know about yet and it pays to check things out before making boarding arrangements for any family pet.
Know the hotel/motel policy before you go by making a simple phone call.When you call be brutally honest about your pet and describe the breed,size,and weight of the pet. If you let the management know ahead of time what they will be dealing with then you can expect no surprizes when you arrive at their establishment.
Always make sure to get the name of the person you have spoken with and if at all possible speak to the manager of the establishment rather than a desk clerk.
Groom your animal the day before you leave on your trip. A good grooming assures that a nice, clean,and good looking animal will be checking in rather than a scruffy looking one. The hotel appreciates a clean animal rather than them having to worry about if your animal has fleas or just plain dirty fur.Be sure to brush your dog or cat daily when on the road to minimize shedding once at the hotel. Also by grooming you are paving the way for the next animal who stays since most hotels and motels are relatively new in accepting animals the cleaner appearance of the animals checking in, the more management will want to keep an animals accepted policy.
Please keep the barking at bay.
Unfortunately,not everyone is a pet lover and a barking animal will drive a hotel/motel neighbor crazy and in turn cause complaints to management.
If you are afraid that this may happen with your pet, try a anti-bark collar for the duration of your stay. If the barking persists you may be asked to leave and this in turn could ruin a well planned and thought out vacation. You may also be faced with a decision to have your pet boarded locally and continue on with your vacation although animals do not generally like to be kenneled, and to be kenneled in a strange place is even more nerve wracking on a poor animal.
Be sure to always clean up after your pet no matter where you are or when it takes place. No matter how large a hotel/motel staff is, or how big a room charge, it is still your responsibility to clean up after your animal.
Be sure to give your animal plenty of exercise; especially dogs. Walking frequently insures that no accidents occur in your room that may be costly upon checkout. If for some reason you can not walk your pet ask the hotel/motel staff if they will or hire a dog walker. Any hotel accepting pets will have names of people for hire to walk your dog and never fear,all are bonded and very responsible.
Keep the hotel furnishings neat and clean by simply packing an extra blanket or sheet to cover the furnishings with.If damages to furnishings do occur report them immediately to the front desk. By reporting immediately the situation can usually be rectified except in the case of a badly chewed article. The hotel staff usually anticipates the usual mess and they will not be alarmed if reported promptly.If you ignore damages you will be billed for the damage later and at what could be an overly inflated rate plus these actions can affect the pets welcome policy and make it difficult for the next person checking in with their pet.
Proper packing for your pet is essential.
Be sure to pack, along with the obvious food and treats, a blanket, your pet's bed,and a water bowl and food bowl. Make sure to bring favorite toys and chews also. This is a trip and your pet needs to feel secure with familiar surroundings such as their bed and toys.
Be sure to have on hand all shot records and any medications necessary.If your hotel of choice has a play group for dogs for instance, they will require shot records and any medical records for your pet. If your pet should happen to snap or bite a person, your pet's shot records are a necessity because without them your dog could be impounded and quarrantined for ten days.
At last count their were over twenty five thousand hotels and motels of all price ranges world wide who have their welcome mats out for your pet. By following these simple rules you insure a safe a happy vacation with your pet and also that the welcome mat will be there the next time you and your pet decide to visit.
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