Here's everything we think you'll need to know about staying at pet friendly lodging with your pet...

Every year, more properties around the U.S. become pet friendly and begin to allow pets. We need to make sure our pets are well behaved and continue to be welcome at these properties.

• Before your trip
• At check-in
• During your stay
• Departure

Before your trip

Consider reserving a ground floor room to make bathroom runs easier.
At the time of reservation:

• Confirm with the property that pets are allowed.
• Inquire on restrictions on the number, type, and size of pets allowed.
• Discuss any non-refundable fees or refundable deposits required.
• Find out which rooms allow pets and learn about any length of stay or seasonal restrictions.
• Ask if your pet may be left unattended and, if so, if it is required to be crated. Regardless, we strongly urge you to bring a crate for reasons below.

At check-in

Announce your pet.
Ask about areas where your pet can be walked to go the bathroom and exercised.
Inquire about areas where your pet is not permitted.
Ask about any insect or rodent poisons in use in public areas or rooms; many of these are toxic to pets.

During your stay

When entering the room, look for mints on pillow or hazardous flowers in room.
Find the nearest emergency animal hospital.
Cover any furniture and beds your pet will be allowed on. Never allow your pet to sleep on uncovered furniture or beds.
Wipe off muddy or dirty paws before entering the room. Also, make sure all sand is off.
Set up a special place for your bed and put the pet's bedding there.
Place your pet's food and water bowls on a mat or feed them outside. Do not use the room ice bucket for a pet bowl. Rinse food cans before placing them in the trash.
Do not let your pet drink out of the toilet. There may be a chemical presence.
Litter boxes should go in the bathroom and newspaper placed underneath. Used litter should be placed in a used baggie to avoid odors in the trash.
Never use hotel towels to clean your pet. Use the towels you brought or paper towels.
Spend some time with your pet acclimating it to the room before leaving.
When leaving the room without your pet:

• We strongly urge you to place your pet in its crate. An uncrated pet can cause destruction, have an accident, escape, or injure themselves or property staff.
• Hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door.
• Leave a radio or television on to soothe your pet and mask external noises.
• Leave lights on at least low so room is not completely dark.
• Leave a favorite toy for your pet.
• Try remaining down the hall the first time you leave your pet to make sure they are not too noisy.
• Advise the front desk of your cell phone number so they may contact you if your pet is unacceptably noisy.

Leave the housekeeper an extra tip for the extra work the pet creates.
Always keep your pet leashed when out of the room.
Never take your pet into a dining area, bar, lounge, pool area, or other areas you have been advised are off-limits.
Walk your pet far from lawns, flower beds, and other public areas.
Always clean up after your pet.
Watch for insect or rodent poisons.
Obey all rules and restrictions.
Before taking your pet in the elevator, make certain other occupants are not nervous.
Make sure your pet is polite to other animals or persons. Don't let it go up to either before asking.
If your pet should damage property, report it immediately and offer to pay any costs.

Departure

Straighten the room up, returning any moved furnishings to their original location.
Pick up any stray pet hair.

Incorrect or missing information? Please contact us and let us know.

Publishing rights: You may republish this article in your website, newsletter, or book on the condition that you agree to attribute the article to "Takeyourpet.com - the place to find pet friendly lodging"

Here's everything we think you'll need to know about getting your pet back...

Millions of pets are lost every year. If you are one of the unlucky individuals whose pet is lost, it is critical that you know the important steps to take immediately on becoming aware of your pet's disappearance.

• Begin your search immediately. Every minute lost reduces your chance of your pet being recovered.
• Look first in the last place you saw your pet then make larger circles.
• When possible, search on foot not on car. You will be leave a scent for your pet to pick up.
• If loss occurred in uninhabited area, leave pieces of clothing with your scent as the pet may return.
• Copy and put up flyers.
• List only physical description of breed, age, sex, weight, color, and all markings but one (save for phone call to weed out scams).
• Do not list name on flyer.
• Place "REWARD" on top of flyer.
• Post flyers at vets, animal hospitals, pets shops, groomers, and schools within as large a radius as possible, up to 65 miles.
• Post flyers at busy intersections
• Contact animal shelters and police departments and give description.
• Visit shelters in area regularly.
• Place ads in local newspapers and offer a small reward.
• Day after loss, go to area at sunrise and contact those making bread, milk, and paper deliveries as they will be the first to see the pet.

Incorrect or missing information? Please contact us and let us know.

Publishing rights: You may republish this article in your website, newsletter, or book on the condition that you agree to attribute the article to "Takeyourpet.com - the place to find pet friendly lodging"

Every year, 30 to 40 million people in the U.S. travel with their pets. The trip is much easier if you know what to bring and what to do. Read on...

• Before your trip
• What to bring
• During your trip

Before your trip

Ask yourself if your pet is really a good candidate for travel.

• Do they like to travel?
• Do they bark much?
• How do they do around other pets?

Certain pets should not travel. Please think very carefully about traveling with pets that are:

• Very young
• Very old
• In heat
• Pregnant
• Sick
• Injured
• Recovering from surgery
• Disobedient
• Not housebroken
• Destructive

Check out the weather at your destination. If the weather is not conducive to taking your pet outside, reconsider your plans as it will be unfair to your pet to leave them alone all day in an unfamiliar location.

Ask yourself if your trip is pet-appropriate. Skiing or museum-hopping for 8 hours while having to leave your pet alone in the room is probably not.

Schedule a visit with your veterinarian.

Make sure your pet is microchipped to aid in its return if lost. Hospitals, kennels, shelters, and humane societies are all using the chip scanners.

Confirm your pet is free of fleas and parasites.

Discuss any health risks at your destination such as flea, heartworm, tick, Lyme, and giardia.

Make certain all vaccinations and other protections are up to date.

Confirm you have copies of all vaccination certificates and records and bring these on your trip. These will reduce the chances of having duplication of vaccination in an emergency. Additionally, some properties may request copies.

Take a current picture of your pet if you do not have one available. Bring picture with you to aid in your pet's recovery in case they get lost.
Make sure your pet's tags are current and secure. Consider adding a paper tag with your cell number for use on the trip.

Check your pet's carrier/crate to make sure it us in good repair and clean. Re-acclimate your pet to it if it has been unused for a length of time.
Brush your pet to remove any loose hair and make sure your pet is free of fleas.

Locate the nearest animal emergency hospital at your destination.

What to bring

• Your vet's phone number.
• Phone number and address of nearest animal emergency hospital at your destination.
• Sturdy leash and spare. Always use retractable leash in public.
• Extra collar (always use breakaway collar for cats).
• Booties (if weather and pet dictate).
• Two sheets to cover bedding and furniture at destination.
• Some of your pet's bedding.
• Food. If you do not feed a brand you are certain will be available at your destination and along the way, bring enough for the whole trip. If you feed canned, bring a can opener and spoon.
• Two gallons of extra drinking water from home. When you are down to the last half-gallon, begin mixing in equal parts with the water supply at your destination. If your pet is especially sensitive, use distilled water.
• Food and water bowl set.
• Dish soap to clean bowls. Mat to place under bowls.
• Portable water bowl or bottle for use when away from your room.
• Flashlight for nighttime walks or bathroom runs.
• Treats.
• Toys or chew items.
• All required medications, supplements, and preventatives.
• First aid kit.
• Brush or comb.
• Tweezers to remove foreign objects from fur or paws.
• Lint and hair remover or brush.
• Baby wipes or moist towelettes to wipe off paws.
• Shampoo.
• For cats, a full litter pan with extra litter, liners, and newspaper to place underneath. Think also about bringing a scratching post.
• Waste removal bags.
• Old towels, carpet cleaner, disinfectant spray, and trash bags for accidents.

During your trip

Make sure your pet is always leashed so it does not try to escape from you and return home. Use a retractable leash in public.

Always clean up after your pet.

Watch for any significant changes to your pet's temperature, heart or respiration rate, and frequency of eating, drinking, urinating, or defecating.
Take your pet to the bathroom before you enter festivals or other public gatherings.

Watch out for kids coming up to your pet so it doesn't bite.

Keep contact with strangers to a minimum and never allow pets to take food from strangers.

Incorrect or missing information? Please contact us and let us know.

Publishing rights: You may republish this article in your website, newsletter, or book on the condition that you agree to attribute the article to "Takeyourpet.com - the place to find pet friendly lodging"

Many pets will enjoy a car trip if there's something fun for them waiting at the other end! Here's how to make your road trip with pets easier and safer.

• Avoiding Carsickness
• Crates, Harnesses, and Restraints
• Before you leave
• On the trip

Avoiding Carsickness

Acclimate your pet to car ahead of time by taking the following steps:

• Use a treat to reward them for getting in the car.
• Try feeding them in a parked car.
• Then start the car to get them used to motion.
• Try taking on them on short errands.

If your pet has a problem, contact your vet about using a calming liquid such as "Rescue Remedy", ginger snap cookies or ginger capsules, an over-the-counter medication such as Benadryl or Dramamine, or a stronger prescription remedy. Note that some of these remedies can modify your pet's ability to adjust to the demands of travel.
On day of trip, feed your pet lightly, if at all - 1/3 of its normal amount - 6 hours before traveling. No more food before the trip. Feed the remainder of the food in the evening after arriving.
Offer water up until departure. Do not withhold water.

Crates, Harnesses, and Restraints

Always use a crate (for cats, this is the only option), harness, or other appropriate restraint.
A 60 pound pet in a 30 mph crash will have 1,200 pounds of force. Even a 10 mph crash can be fatal.
Unrestrained pets can escape (or get injured or killed while attempting to) or hamper rescuer's efforts after a crash.
Injured or traumatized pets can become aggressive, even to those they know.
Some state laws require it.
Test your choice on your pet and acclimate them to it before your trip.
If using a crate, make sure it is well-ventilated, securely placed and restrained by putting a seat belt through the crate. Place label on crate "please leave pet in crate to remove from vehicle". If crate's location is too warm, you can use a battery-operated fan. Make certain to put a familiar article in crate for your pet's comfort.
If you are not using a crate, use a padded harness specifically made for car travel. The harness attaches to the seat belt.

Before you leave

Not every pet will adjust to car trips.
Before taking longer trips, take shorter trips first.
Check out the rules for pet entry for the states you'll be passing through and staying in.
Use Takeyourpet.com to find pet-friendly lodging before you go.
Don't forget to take in the car:

• Your pet's favorite bedding and toys.
• A litter box on the floor if traveling with a cat.
• An extra roll of paper towels in case of car sickness.
• An old blanket or sheet on the back seat to minimize dirt and hair transfer.
• A window shade to keep your pet out of the sun,.
• Water for your pet. Freeze containers if needed.

On the trip

Place the pet on the shady side of the car and try to place where you can see them. Pets should never be in a front seat. Air bags can deploy dangerously and injure your pet. Also, pets in the front seat may be a source of distraction or get in the way in the event the driver needs to perform emergency action.
Never put your pet in a trunk or the storage area of a moving van.
Never put your pet into the open bed of a pickup. The bed may be too hot or the pet may attempt to (or actually) jump out of the truck. Many state laws thankfully prohibit such a practice.
Make certain your pet's collar remains on the whole trip.
For eating, eat a restaurant with patio dining where pets are allowed or use a facility offering drive-thru or drive-up service.
Use your air conditioning and heating to keep your pet comfortable.
Make sure to offer your pet water regularly to keep it comfortable.
Stop every 3-4 hours for rest and to allow your pet to stretch.
Make certain to secure your pet before opening the car door.
Always use a leash when having your pet out of the car. Rest areas have a dangerous level of traffic. Unleashed pets may be injured or stolen. They can also be exposed to antifreeze, broken glass, dangerous garbage, pesticides, and rodenticides.
If you are traveling with a cat, do not let it out of the car. Just pull over in a quiet place, close the doors and windows and let it run around in the car.
Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle. Cold and heat can kill. Vehicles can reach 160 degrees even in cloudy weather and shade moves. Pets left in a running car can succumb to carbon monoxide exposure. Also, thieves steal pets out of parked vehicles. Your pet may also become scared if left and may injure itself or escape.
Once you re-enter the car and have it secured, remove your pet's leash. An attached leash can become a choking hazard.
Don't allow your pet to stick its head out of the window. Flying debris may injure or it may fall out. Pets may also get bee stings in their nose or have their ears or respiratory system damaged by the force of wind. Additionally, pets have been strangled from electric windows.

Incorrect or missing information? Please contact us and let us know.

Publishing rights: You may republish this article in your website, newsletter, or book on the condition that you agree to attribute the article to "Takeyourpet.com - the place to find pet friendly lodging"