You love living life to its fullest with your family and friends. For many, family includes the dog.
Whether looking for a rental, heading out to eat, traveling, or purchasing homeowner’s insurance, here’s a handy guide to a pet-friendly life.
Housing and Insurance
Having a dog-friendly home is step one. If you own, you have more freedom over whether you have dogs, what type and how many – the only restrictions being local ordinances and possibly your homeowner’s association.
If you rent, things can get trickier. While many rentals accept small dogs, larger dogs limit the number of rentals available to you. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Here are two great resources:
Renting With Pets from the Humane Society of the United States
Housing and Insurance from the Animal Farm Foundation
Many insurance companies exclude certain breeds of dogs. Luckily, several do not. View the Animal Farm Foundation’s Homeowner’s Insurance for Dog Owners guide to learn more.
On the Go
Nowadays, many people enjoy dining, traveling and going on outings with their dogs. As the demand for pet-friendly services rises, a number of websites have emerged to offer detailed resources for wherever you live or travel.
Here are a few to check out:
GoPetFriendly.com – offers 60,000 listings, including hotels, campgrounds, beaches, off-leash parks, veterinarians, pet supply stores and restaurants.
BringFido.com – lists 25,000 pet friendly hotels, as well as bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, campgrounds and more, along with reviews and pet policy information.
DogFriendly.com – publishes pet travel guides and offers information on hotels, attractions, historical sites, campgrounds, parks, beaches, patio dining, skiing and more.
Pet-Friendly-Hotels.net – lists 25,000 pet-friendly hotels.
TripsWithPets.com – provides 30,000 pet-friendly hotels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, and other pet friendly accommodations.
Pet-Friendly Tips
When camping, check the campground’s pet policy (most are available online). While some state and national parks won’t let dogs in the backcountry, campgrounds tend to have more lenient campground pet policies and less breed discrimination.
If a hotel lists a weight limit for dogs, call to confirm as published rules may be outdated or not enforced.
When traveling in warm weather, remember to never leave your pet in the car. Even with the windows cracked, a car is like a greenhouse and temperatures rise to dangerous heights quickly.
Keep in mind that restaurants can’t allow non-service dogs inside. However, many restaurants will allow dogs on the patio, so just ask.
For those who love spending time with their pets, bringing them along on trips and outings adds fun and memories, making leisure pursuits that much more enjoyable.
Resources:
How to Travel With Your Dog – CNN.com
Traveling With Your Dog – AKC.org
Road Trips With Your Dog – ASPCA.org