Pet Friendly Travel Can be FUN

As recently published in EZINE.com…

“There is nothing more fun than grabbing your pet and taking off on a road trip. Whether you have an extended holiday in mind or a just a couple of days to break up the boredom of city living,it will be good for you and your 4- legged friend… well, your monkey might have only 2 legs but I wouldn’t suggest traveling with your monkey. That is just one thing to know when traveling with a pet. Check out more of my suggestions.

NO SURPRISES

Be a responsible pet friendly traveler. You might travel with your dog but I wouldn’t take along your exotic animals. If you must, please ask the establishment if that is allowed. You put the establishment in a very embarrassing position. They won’t like turning you away but they may have to. Many insurance companies limit the liability to hotels allowing pets. That is why some have weight and breed limits. Always come clean and pick the accommodation that is right for you. This is true of cats as well. Many people are extremely allergic. Therefore if you travel with a cat you will find fewer places to accommodate you and you may end up in a smoking room.

TRAVEL WITH A CRATE

This cuts down on the anxiety of your pet. They much prefer sleeping in their own bedroom. So, bring it along. You will find the hotelier will be very happy with your choice to do so.

ASK UP FRONT

You will want to know if the accommodation you have chosen is merely pet tolerant or are they pet friendly. There is a huge difference. Do they have an exercise area? Are you limited to pet-friendly (smoking) rooms? Sometimes this is not the best choice. Remember you want to be comfortable too.

TRAVEL WITH MEDICAL RECORDS

You always want to be proactive here. If there is ever an altercation, by law a dog must be quarantined without proof of vaccination.

DON’T LEAVE A FOOTPRINT

Bring along all necessary cleaning supplies in the case there is an accident and don’t forget your poop bags. Clean up after yourself and let there be no proof your pooch has ever been in the room.

Hopefully in the future the day will come where we can dine with our hounds, grab a street car in San Fran or hail a taxi in NYC. But we must prove we are worthy of such a privilege. Until that time let us do all we can to be the best and most responsible pet-friendly travelers out there.”

Congratulations to North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue

Exciting news for the Charlotte area. A dynamic new shelter has opened and they are working very hard to get up and running full swing. Please go to their website and see if you can offer assistance in any way. And most especially see if you can help Grace out.

Just in from North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue.

“We are in very special need for a foster for Grace. She is a scared little Daschund / Hound mix, that is super short and cute. She is very pregnant (we had no idea til she got here) and she is going to need a safe, warm environment to have her puppies in. She is also shy w/ people and we don’t think anyone has every shown this poor girl any love.”

More news….

“It is a very worrisome time for bully breed owners in North Carolina.  Due to recent tragedies, there has been a push for breed bans with rumors of statewide legislation.  A small group of knowledgeable people are trying to insure that any laws target the actions of specific dogs and their owners, not breeds, in order to protect responsible owners and actually address the real problem behind dog attacks.  In addition, they are working for legislation with provisions for the prevention of tragedies by better ordinances regarding animal care and abuse.

All dog owners in N.C. should be keeping abreast of these developments and supporting as you are able.  Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) hurts all dog owners, even if your breed isn’t singled out…YET.  That could change for you on any given day.  BSL has been disproven time and time again, yet people who don’t know better use it as a go-to solution after reading through inaccurate “research studies” on attacks, bite rates, and breed (mis)identification.

For you bully owners, we are advocating that you take your dog’s training to the next level.  By polishing up on your obedience and working on distractions, you can prepare for the AKC Canine Good Citizen’s Test and have a certificate proving that your bully is a well-trained, well-mannered dog and that you are a responsible owner.  This may just be the type of certificate that saves your best friend’s life when it comes time for the dogs to be singled out by authorities.

This will be a long journey, with many phases, and a need for much support.  We may call on you to contact your legislators, show your support by sitting in public meetings, or just get your well behaved bully into the public eye as much as possible by taking him with you to the local coffee shop for your Sunday coffee.  This is a frightening time, and we must all support each other, or dogs could pay with their lives, as they have in other cities and states across the country.”

Meet one of our most illustrious guests of all time, Ms. SaraBella Prewitt but also her new partner in crime Jake. SaraBella and Jake have been chosen as cover kids representing a new line of awesome togs for dogs, CASA POOCHIE. As you can see by these little teasers, the line is destined to be a big hit. Note SaraBella donning a lovely pink knit with just a bit of whimsy. Jake is sporting a quilted, hooded vest with a hint of faux fur. Their website will be up and running in a very short time. And we will be the first to let you know. You heard it here first…CASA POOCHIE.

Going through all of our photos from the last couple of weeks and I wanted to share this one. If you can believe it we still have snow but the driveway is finally clear from ice. So we have canceled our reality show Extreme Bed and Breakfast Getaways.

There is no better place for a splendid dog-friendly vacation than greater Asheville, North Carolina. There is so much to do and so much to see for you and your pooch. And Asheville, paws down is the most pet friendly city in the south. In the city or outside let the fun begin. If dining around is your thing you have a plethora of choices.

Thanks to the new North Carolina dog-friendly dining rule there is no challenge finding a great place to eat. If it is OK with the owner it is OK with the state. Of course we are speaking of dining al fresco and pooches are asked to be on their best behavior.

Many bars do offer inside seating since they don’t have full kitchens to trouble the health department. Asheville recently ended in a dead heat for the best beer town along with Portland, Oregon. So, expect great bars for you to grab a brewsky and yep, Bowser is welcome.

You will also be very impressed with the attitude of the shop owners. They are very welcoming to your pets offering little snacks upon entrance.

Asheville is home to America’s largest home, the Biltmore Estate where dogs are welcome on the grounds and in many of the exhibits. Catch some of the most breath-taking views of western North Carolina from this perfect vantage point. Standing next o your pet you can dream of times gone by when the Vanderbilts romped the grounds with their many dogs.

Venture out of town and enjoy Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, raft the French Broad, drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway or hike on the Appalachian Trail. So, as you can just imagine in town or in the mountains surrounding Asheville a very dog-friendly adventure is awaiting of you.

Gary and I had a smashing day at the Biltmore yesterday with Ponder. I have bragged how dog friendly the Biltmore had become but nowhere has it been more evident than on the great lawn behind the estate yesterday. Being season ticket holders it seems all the locals go there with their dogs for their daily walk around a wonderfully paved path. It was 40 degrees. (Yes, it seems the moderate winters of Western North Carolina have returned.) Afterwards we found ourselves at Antler Village for an ice cream cone. An abosolutely wonderful day with strong reminders as to why we live here in the greater area of Asheville, North Carolina.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from dog friendly Ponder Cove

We have had a great year here at PC meeting new friends and looking forward to the New Year together. Know we wish you all the very best in 2011. HAPPY NEW YEAR

TA DA! Another smashing wedding here at the cove. As you can see Jessica was stunning in her breen (brown/green) gown, blending beautifully with our end of season colors.

Not only was Rick color co-ordinated beautifully but do you see the groomsman peaking between their legs? That is Magoo dressed in his lovely brown coat.  If you can’t see him I know you can see his tongue. He was not only the perfect  groomsman but he was the perfect PC guests.

We had fun you guys…thanks for coming. And CONGRATULATIONS!

For more fun photos of Rick and Jessica click here.

How cute is this? Come share your cute pooch with us. Just say POOCH and I will give you a free night for a two night stay. Turkey, Christmas and New Year dates excluded from this offer. xxoo m