Pets are so much of a friend and a part of the family, and that?s why so many vacationers bring them along on family getaways.
Plus, dogs and cats like a change of pace from their daily routines, too.
“It puts a customer at ease to bring their pet on vacation,” said Aidia Khalil, owner of St. Michaels? Victoriana Inn. “It?s like a vacation for their pets, too. And for a lot of these people, their pets are better-behaved than their children.”
Lots of parks, beaches, shops and restaurants make a vacation spot particularly pet-friendly. Some lodgings even offer separate, pet-friendly entrances; ground-level rooms; private decks, and free pet kits with snacks, food, toys and brushes.
“Having the pets around adds a more homey touch, even for guests who come without pets,” said Heather Sally, office manager at Five Gables Inn and Spa in St. Michaels. “In general, the pets are very well-behaved and used to traveling.”
“It probably would mean we wouldn?t go [on vacation] if we couldn?t bring our dogs with us,” said Michelle Josephs, of Deep Creek Lake, who vacations in St. Michaels every two tothree months.
While dogs and cats are the most common pets to bring along, the occasional bird and even lemur have made appearances.
“We usually have six or eight dogs at a time. We?ve had birds. People travel with all kinds of pets,” said Sandy Strouse, owner of The River Inn at Rolph?s Wharf Marina in Chestertown.
“Once I went to deliver towels to a room and a lemur jumped out at me,” said Brett Henry, front office manager of Baltimore?s Pier 5 Hotel. “It hopped past my head and clung to the wall with the sole intention of trying to end my life.”
Though non-pet-owners don?t seem to mind having pets around, pet-friendly lodgings still have rules.
“If you are to bring an exotic animal, we encourage them to be caged up,” Henry said. “It’s not acceptable for a hamster to be running around the room.”
“Sometimes we won?t even go out to dinner if we can?t bring our dog,” said Doris Hilgartner, a Baltimore city resident, about her 8-year-old German shorthair, which she walks at the Canton dog park. “I bring him to work, and try to take him with me on vacations. He deserves it just as much as we do.”
