RV Traveling with Pets
Sunday, September 30th, 2007
We are approaching “Snowbird” season and many of you travel with pets in your RV. While I am not yet ready to be a “Snowbird” I do travel in my RV with our two dogs and assorted critters-lizards, frogs and whatever else my sons are holding captive at the time of travel. I like the advice of Kelly Connolly, an issues specialist with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), about the key to traveling with pets. She states, “They can’t take care of themselves, they think they’re people, anyway, so this shouldn’t be much of a stretch.”
So keeping this in mind, I have a few tips on traveling with your pets in your RV.
1. Buy the right RV for your “family”. Happy travel starts with choosing the right rig for those that typically travel with you, including the pets. My family bought a Class A motorhome several years ago because we have three rambunctious boys and a number of pets. We all have plenty of room to spread our “wings” while traveling around the country.
2. Plan for the four legged family members. I always recommend you plan ahead. If you are going on a vacation, is this something that the pets will enjoy. Even though traveling in the RV works well for the dogs, when we stop to camp or spend the day is this activity pet friendly? If you are going to a campground, make sure it is a location that allows pets and has an area they can get some exercise. Be certain to have a leash, I have yet to find a location that doesn’t require pets on a leash. This is for their safety and the safety of other campers.
3. Read the pet rules. All RV parks and campgrounds have regulations regarding pets. some even have size limitations or ban certain breeds. Some areas are so restrictive that they don’t allow pets on their property at all. My family found out about this the tough way. We were traveling in Utah and arrived at Bryce Canyon where we planned to take a hike in the beautiful mountains. What is that-NO DOGS ALLOWED. This beautiful majestic mountain area happens to be a National Park, no dogs-even on a leash. We were quite disappointed and missed out on our hike.
4. Dogs that may be banned. For a number of reasons, there are certain breeds that have a bad reputation and mostly for insurance purposes some locations will not allow the following breeds: Airedale terrier, Akita, Alaskan malamute, chow chow, Dalmatian, Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, Great Dane, husky, mastiff, pitbull terrier, rottweiler, Siberian husky, Staffordshire terrier, wolf and wolf hybrids. To be on the safe side check the 2007 Trailer Life RV Parks, Campgrounds and Services Directory.
Stay tuned, more travel tips tomorrow…
