There are so many rules and regulations out there these days, and many of them are for our pets. Even though the general population considers their pet as part of their family, most of the regulations out there are regarding pets and what we can and cannot do with them. If you are considering a trip with your dog this year, you should consider what you can and cannot do with them. This is especially true of beach vacations – so many hotels, beach cottages, condos and beaches themselves regulate what you can do and where you can go with your animal.
For any sort of lodging, from the hotels to rental apartments and beach cottages, you should definitely inquire in advance as to the rules and regulations. Many places will flat out refuse to allow pets in, except for service animals. This is especially true of hotels. Some hotels are becoming more open to allowing pets to stay in the rooms, especially smaller dogs. They will often charge a fee for allowing a pet to stay, and often require a deposit.
Rental properties, including apartments, condos, houses and beach cottages, can be more relaxed and in general go by a place-by-place basis based on the owner’s preferences. Some rentals not only allow pets, but also encourage the owners to bring them by providing dog bowls and crates. Many of these places will still require the renters to put down a deposit and will sometimes still charge extra for allowing a pet to stay in the rental home.
Be careful about the beaches as well. Many beaches will flat out refuse to allow pets onto the beach. This is something you should look into, as you do not want to find out that you will have to leave Fido at home for eight hours a day in a rental place while you frolic on the beach. For the beaches that do allow animals, there are usually regulations that require all animals to be on leashes.
Even if the beach has no posted rules regarding animals, there are a few unwritten rules that should be followed in order to keep the peace. Clean up after your animal on any public beach. Bring baggies along if you are taking the dog to a public beach. Make sure that your animal has the required shots. Finally, keep your dog safe. Don’t leave your dog on a leash in the sun all day long. Keep them hydrated, take them on walks, and make sure they are in the shade when you have them resting.