Have Pet, Will Travel Bringing A Four-Footed Friend On Vacation Requires Careful Planning And An Extra Dose Of Courtesy

Some pets run painfully short of etiquette skills. Not only do they fail the salad fork test, they mess up beautiful garden paths and constantly put their noses in each others’ business.

Still, the only things worse than ill-mannered pets are clueless masters.

Dogs are becoming world travelers, staying in upscale hotels and frequenting RV parks. Other pets, such as fish, rodents and reptiles, are also traveling. While some are jet-setters, others are reluctant tourists, experiencing life outside the back yard for the first time. Regardless of a pet’s travel resume, basic manners help the four-legged blend into any two-legged environment.

WestCoast Grand Hotel in Spokane (formerly Cavanaughs Inn at the Park) is one of several dozen Spokane hotels that welcomes pets and one of fewer that doesn’t charge a deposit. Dan Erb, director of rooms, says a few easy strategies can make hotel stays with pets more relaxing.

Call ahead and ask if pets are allowed. If so, let the clerk know you’ll be bringing one. Ask to be located near an exit. The Grand Hotel tries to book pets into ground floor rooms with sliders opening to a grassy area, says Erb.

Request a sign for the door that notifies housekeeping and maintenance there’s a pet in the room. Without that knowledge, housekeepers might unintentionally set Rufus free to sniff around hallways and visit the coffee shop.

“You open the door and the pet runs out. Then we have a situation where there are pets running around,” says Erb.

Don’t leave animals unattended because you may return to find your terrified pooch has attempted to tunnel out through the door or carpeting. Charges for damages quickly add up.

Even crated pets don’t always do well when left alone, says Erb.

“Generally, pets are in a new environment in an area they’re not familiar with. The slightest noise and they start barking.”

Resist the urge to freshen up your disheveled pet in the tub. Hotel plumbing is set up for people, not hairy pets.

Alderwood RV Resort, an award-winning park north of Spokane, allows grooming because the plumbing is outdoors, says manager Al Karsevar.

Karsevar believes pets are one of the best things to happen to RV parks because “91/2 of 10 RV-ers” bring animals along. That creates an entertaining atmosphere.

“Gigantic dogs are sitting up where the owners should be,” Karsevar says. As RVs tend to get longer and wider, he observes, so do the pets traveling inside.

A Canadian couple recently pulled into Alderwood with two large Saint Bernards.

“They were slobbering all over everyone and pulling their owners everywhere, but they were basically well behaved,” he said.

One would expect bigger problems from big dogs, but that isn’t usually the case, says Karsevar.

“Very rarely do we hear barking dogs. We can’t tolerate that because we’re in close quarters.”

Alderwood’s pet rules are printed on brochures and maps and posted in the office. Rules are similar to those at other RV parks. Patrons are expected to walk pets, provide adequate food and water, be diligent on poop patrol and keep dogs out of neighboring RV sites.

Additionally, dogs shouldn’t be left behind while masters visit local attractions because some get disoriented and end up tangled on their chains, says Karsevar.

With so many pets recreating, there are bound to be mishaps. A big boxer, resting under its RV on a hot afternoon, escaped his leash and bounded through the neighbor’s door and into their air-conditioned RV. He made himself comfortable, and it took several people to remove the stubborn hound.

“He didn’t want to go. He absolutely didn’t want to leave the air conditioning,” recalls Karsevar.

Donna McGown, clerk for the maintenance office of the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department, suggests that pet owners who are visiting an unfamiliar park call in advance to inquire if pets are allowed.

Too often dogs end up sitting in hot cars or being tied outside because a park or garden doesn’t allow pets, says McGown.

The Finch Arboretum and the Japanese Garden inside Manito Park are both pet-free zones because dogs disrupt wildlife and cause problems.

“The problem is (the Japanese Garden) is kind of a confined area,” says McGown. “If there are two dogs in there, they want to go see each other, and fights happen.

“The authenticity is gone when they’re barking at each other.”

While dogs are allowed throughout other areas at Manito and at all other Spokane parks, leashes are required. There’s nothing worse then being a lawabiding citizen and having your leashed pet or toddler mauled by some bonehead’s free-roaming mutt.

“We want them on a leash that can’t go any farther than six feet from the owner,” says McGown.

Cleaning up doggie’s calling card isn’t only polite; it’s required by ordinance. Be sure to bring along plastic bags.

When it comes to crowded events at Riverfront Park, McGown recommends people leave aggressive dogs at home.

“If a Rottweiler is 16 years old and couldn’t chase Grandma down the road and has a good personality, that’s different,” says McGown.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

FAST FACTS

Tips for pets in hotels

Bring familiar blankets or toys for pets.

Place towels or mats under food and water dishes.

Feed pet in the bathroom to minimize mess.

Keep pets off furniture, and bring lint remover for cleanup.

When walking dogs, carry plastic bags or paper towels for cleanup.

Always keep pets leashed.

- From “Doin’ The Northwest With Your Pooch,” by Eileen Barish