Don't say you are 'pet friendly' if you aren't
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
United States
March 28, 2016 7:11am CST
Since we have no one to leave Ruby with and we won't leave her at a boarding facility, we have to find pet friendly vacation rentals. As a matter of fact, when I search using Home Away/VRBO I set my filers to search only pet friendly locations.
But over the years what I have found, and am still finding, is that saying pet friendly doesn't mean a whole lot. I always ask, "What are your pet rules/regulations?" If I get a reply such as, "Pick up the dog poop before you leave" or "Vacuum up the dog hair" those are requests we can deal with.
However, the replies that say, "Dog must be crated when left alone int he cabin" means I don't rent there. Some have said, "Dogs must be crated and left on the porch when you leave the cabin" which really is not pet friendly.
Ruby was given free run of our home at 10 months old. She never chewed one thing of ours in her almost 5 years on this earth. She has never done anything in a rental that would make us fear leaving her un-crated.
We only stay at rentals that allow her to be un-crated. If you make me pay a $100 non-refundable pet fee plus an extra cleaning fee and then tell me to crate her - I will tell you what I think and I did that this morning.
I had 6 potential rental cabins on my list and as each person replies to my question I unfortunately had to cross two off.
I thank them for their time and move on...but I would love to tell them to stop calling themselves pet friendly since they aren't.
Photo is mine. It is Ruby in a very pet friendly rental in Beaufort, SC two years ago.
14 people like this
12 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
28 Mar 16
I am ok with a higher deposit in case of chewing, but 2 of my dogs would not need crated. one would, but I already know that, and I would NOT crate him outside!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
28 Mar 16
That place in the photo - no extra cleaning fee or pet fee - that owner is truly a good guy.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
28 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill that's pretty cool!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Mar 16
They don't spell them out, they make you work for them LOL...It's time consuming.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Mar 16
@jahunt No, I can't stand the ride, its a long 7 hours and that traffic thru Atlanta gives me the willies LOL! We didn't go last year...taking mini-vacations with less travel time instead....but we miss SC.

@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
28 Mar 16
I won't leave her with anyone. I would worry too much.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Mar 16
@amadeo Of course you don't. We don't fly , we stay in the eastern half of the US.
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
28 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill we do not have much of a choice if we are flying all over to Europe.
1 person likes this

@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
28 Mar 16
Ruby looks so at home.... yeahh some peoples ideas of dog friendly...don't match mine..., I think you're very restrained in not telling them so too..., i'm not sure I could showthe same restraint...lol's
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Mar 16
Believe me I'd like to tell them off but they don't care. Their place, their rules.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Mar 16
Ruby looks like a very well-behaved dog. I am sure there are many, though, which are not. I hope you find a good spot.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
28 Mar 16
Thanks, we will, it just takes a lot of searching! I know there are bad dogs, but not my Ruby! We never leave her alone the first day - that way she gets used to the place...then the next day we never leave her for hours and hours, maybe 3 hours at the most.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill That is the way we did when Woof, the Papillion was still around too.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
28 Mar 16
@JamesHxstatic I guess some people leave dogs all day and that's not good.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Mar 16
Thank you...I have two to pick from both require no crating.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
29 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill That's great!
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (40032)
• Toccoa, Georgia
28 Mar 16
I am glad there are hotels and lodges etc. that are truly pet friendly.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
28 Mar 16
I've never run into this problem anywhere else - no problem in Pigeon Forge or the South Carolina coast..but Waynesville/Maggie Valley area forget it! I have one potential - I have to call and 'talk' to the owner, she won't tell me the 'rules' unless I call....hum..
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Mar 16
LOL, keep the kids in cages - that's a darn good idea for some kids I think and for some adults.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
29 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill Yes, this is a great idea and some teenagers should be kept in soundproofed cakes, there they can make all the noise they like.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Mar 16
@LadyDuck LOL if 'we' ruled the world how different things would be.
1 person likes this

@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
28 Mar 16
it's a pain but it's part of owning a dog. Taking her is easy, getting a pet friendly place not so easy!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
28 Mar 16
We never had a problem with Ruby in a hotel - or our previous dog..but vacation rental places operate differently. I don't mind paying extra - I won't crate her.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Mar 16
@DianneN She probably would go into a funk of some kind..LOL, me too.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
29 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill I wouldn't either! Poor baby.
1 person likes this

@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
28 Mar 16
As a landlord I made the unfortunate mistake of telling my ten at they could have a cat. Next thing I knew she had five cats. The letterbox smell hit you as soon as you entered the apartment building. The carpet needed to be replaced, the window sill needed to be replaced. Irresponsible pet owner cause problems for the responsible pet owner.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
28 Mar 16
Very true, but if an owner is hesitant, they should not do pet friendly at all. I'd put my husband in a crate sooner than the dog
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
Ruby is so beautiful. Not pet friendly in deed, if they will require your pet to be crated. Or have they a different definition of friendly now?
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
28 Mar 16
I guess they have their own definition, but its not mine.
1 person likes this













