Pace's Ponderings - pet policies

Woof, Woof,
  Translation: Hi, I'm Pace'

Me in Vermijo Park.

  Let me introduce myself!  I'm the house dog here at the Old Town GuestHouse.  House dogs don't have much to do other than lay around and look cute (I'm good at that) so my friend Kim Abels suggested I write a BLOG about things that go on here at the GuestHouse.
  So I was sitting there in my favorite park (just down the street), overlooking Fountain Creek and the new Midland Trail extension, wondering what to say.   HMMMMMM!

  OK, how about pet policies!?

  I'm a pet - duh, and Don and Shirley (well actually EVERYONE) loves me.  Maybe you have a pet too!  I hope you do and I hope you love your pet as much as I'm loved.  As it turns out, Don & Shirley don't take me on their trips, I'm left behind to do my house dog thing, just work, work, work.  But the truth is I like it that way.  I'm safe at home, plenty of food, plenty of company, I sleep in my own bed, take walks in my favorite park and avoid the stress of long car rides or, worse still, being caged up in an airplane going someplace I don't care much to see anyway.

  But maybe you like/need/want to take your pet along.  There are, I'm sure, any number of valid reasons why you might do this.  What you'll face at most hotels, almost all B&B's and even at Aunt Martha's house are 'policies'.  Google "pet policies for hotels" and you'll see an endless list of links to an endless array of 'policies'.  Large hotels are the most lenient (they can reserve a couple of rooms at the far end of the hall for guests with pets).  Cheaper hotels/motels are pretty lenient too, you can imagine why.  Small upscale Inns and B&B's have the toughest 'policies'.  Here's why:

  Allergies:  Pet dander is one of the most common allergies and one of the hardest to control and clean up.

  'Accidents':  Most Inns are not carpeted and furnished with industrial products - often the furniture is antique or 'one-of-a-kind', even throw rugs may have been hand picked to match the room's decor.

  Ambiance:  The other guests expect a quiet, relaxing, perhaps romantic experience.

  House Pets:  Yes, I'm the bad guy here.  I was here first.  This is my home, I'm trained to behave according to the rules.  I have a place to go if I behave improperly.

  The GuestHouse does not allow pets but they will make reservations at a near-by kennel (of which I have approved).  Inns that do allow pets often provide on-site kenneling of some sort (check first) and most always charge a 'clean up' fee and possibly a rather large damage deposit (refundable, all or in part).

  Remember:  Just because an Inn is not "pet-friendly" doesn't mean the owners are pet unfriendly.

  Well I hope this helps!

  Bye for now!  "Woof"

  Pace'