Coming to Colorado this summer? Bring Your Dog!!

Top Pet Friendly Destination

JEN REEDER

Recently when Sharon Sakson, author of Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs, was at the Vagabond Inn in Naples, NY, she was amused to overhear the owner, Patti Fitzgerald, explaining to a caller that dogs are welcome at the inn but children are not.

“She said, ‘I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you, did you say you are bringing your Pekingese? That will be wonderful, we’ve never had a Pekingese.’

“But apparently, the caller wanted to bring their pre-teen child. Patti was horrified, ‘Sorry, no, this is not a child-friendly environment.’

“She said the man could not believe that she would let in his dog but not his kid. But that’s the way it is! A sign out front says, ‘Loose children will be given a puppy and an espresso,’” Sakson says.

More and more hotels and destinations have begun to cater to people traveling with pets. In some cases, entire regions are welcoming pets.

TELLURIDE, COLORADO: The idyllic town of Telluride (visittelluride.com) boasts that it has more dogs than people. So dogs are welcome in more than half of the inns and hotels in Telluride and neighboring Mountain Village, and nearly all of the condos and vacation homes allow pets to stay with their owners. Pets are allowed in select cabins of the free, energy-efficient gondola that connects Telluride with neighboring Mountain Village, ensuring man’s best friends can also enjoy the 360-degree views. The town’s free shuttle bus system, the Galloping Goose, welcomes well-behaved pets on a leash. (Between the shuttle bus system and energy efficient gondola, there is no need for a car in Telluride.) Designated “puppy parking” spots throughout town let dogs chill out for a few minutes while owners pop into nearby retail shops. And the annual Telluride Fur Ball each August is a celebration for dogs and their owners. Benefiting the Second Chance Humane Society, the event features live music, food and dance. The town’s surrounding hiking trails are open to dogs – just be sure to pick up their waste and pack it out!

Of course, there’s always the most economical option of all: camping. Dr. Janice Trumpeter, DVM, AAHA Deputy Executive Director, and her husband Scott have taken their cats and dogs camping with them for years. It all started with Pokey, their orange tabby, who was diabetic and needed insulin shots twice a day, so they took him camping with them since they couldn’t leave him alone. He’d wear a little harness outside and loved to look around the campground.

Looking back on time spent with pets, she says, “Some of the best times were when we were camping.” Now if they have a short camping trip and don’t take their cat Wally, a Himalayan who likes to hang out in the camping trailer, they miss him.

“I think it can be so beneficial for owners and their pets, whether it’s camping or traveling with pets, because they get to spend time together,” Trumpeter says. “Pets really enjoy it because they get to spend time with you!”

And, remember that it’s always a good idea to check with your veterinarian about the area you’re planning on traveling to. They will make sure your pet has the necessary vaccinations and medications and/or products appropriate for the area.

Jen Reeder is a freelance journalist who used to spend summers on a sailboat with her grandparents’ cat “Fun Fur.” Note: All content provided on HealthyPet.com, is meant for educational purposes only on health care and medical issues that may affect pets and should never be used to replace professional veterinary care from a licensed veterinarian. This site and its services do not constitute the practice of any veterinary medical health care advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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