Packing Your Pet

There was a time not so long ago that travellers with a pet could go on any kind of vacation they wanted—as long as it was camping. Hotels and resorts were out of the question, and the only alternative was dropping Fluffy or Fido off at a kennel—a prison-like facility that gave the beloved family pet (and its owners) a lot of stress.

Thankfully, times have changed. We’ve become a more pet-friendly culture in recent years, accepting of dogs and cats not just as four-legged friends but asTop-dog treatment at Opus Hotel (Courtesy of Opus Hotel) important members of our families. A stroll through Vancouver’s Yaletown will quickly attest to this, as label-clad dog owners wander from shop to shop with their beloved charges in tow. Even the dogs themselves can get in on the action, with a variety of stores that cater to the canine crowd with every type of toy and treat imaginable.

Hotels have gotten on board with this dog-loving trend as well, and it’s now possible to take your pet with you just about anywhere. Many hotels allow guests to bring pets—mostly dogs—for a small additional fee, and some upscale accommodations offer “pet packages” with enough features to make us humans feel a little jealous.

The Magnolia Hotel & Spa in downtown Victoria offers a “Pooch Lover’s Package”, including a “pooch pack” with an off-leash walking map, gourmet treat, toy, monogrammed towel and other useful items. Vancouver’s Opus Hotel, where it’s rumoured Christina Aguilera stays when she’s in town with her canine companions, features the “Dog’s (Bed and) Breakfast” package, complete with an in-room Howlistic International Doggie Jet Set Kit including massage cream, treats, doggie toothbrush, collar & leash and more goodies. “We’ve had a pet-friendly policy since we opened in 2002,” says Opus general manager Daniel Craig, “and we’re seeing more and more guests travelling with pets.”

Pooch play facilities at Rex Dog Hotel + Spa
(www.fotograficastudio.com)For those travelling a little farther afield or for extended periods, boarding your pet might be the better option. Luckily, the grim cinderblock kennels of the past are long gone, as kennel operators recognize their customers’ desire for more homey surroundings. At Vancouver’s Rex Dog Hotel + Spa, dogs lounge and play in style in an open-concept 10,000-sq.-ft design. An outdoor water park, easy-to-climb ramps, and lots of platforms and pillows encourage canine guests to play and interact with other dogs and with the ever-vigilant staff, who even sleep in the lounge with the dogs. Owners Barrie and Karen Balshaw began as the owners of the popular Doghouse Daycare and created the Rex in response to customer requests. “The great thing is,” he says, “that our staff already know many of the dogs that stay with us. You can leave your dog knowing that he or she is safe and having a lot of fun.”

Dogs relax by the fire at
Happy Tails Ranch
(Courtesy of Happy Tails Ranch)Some dogs are more the rugged outdoorsy type than the chic city-dweller. The Happy Tails Ranch on the Sunshine Coast caters to dogs that love the great outdoors. Chari Keet and Dave Hurtubise opened their “summer camp for dogs” seven years ago with the goal of creating a true “home away from home” for their canine clients. With a five-acre property and nary a cage or kennel in sight, Keet says, “Basically, we just spoil them rotten. They live in the house with us, sleep on the furniture, and I make them special muffins.” She adds that their customers so love the service—including the Vancouver pickup and drop-off—that many repeat customers send their dogs for a visit at least once a year—even if they’re not going anywhere themselves.

Much like human accommodations, prices vary for hotels and boarding. Expect to pay about $30 to $60 per night for overnight boarding, with discounts for longer-term stays. Deluxe hotel pet packages can add up to $60 to regular room rates, while more basic accommodations simply add a $10-$30 charge per stay.

Long considered an easier-care option than dogs, cats also need love and mental stimulation when their owners go away. Cat-sitting ensures that your cat stays healthy and entertained during your absence, and that any loneliness and boredom won’t get taken out on the furniture. Urban Tails is a Vancouver cat-sitting service that provides half-hour visits to your home, once or twice a day. As owner Jen Lord notes, “Although cats aren’t as transparent about their feelings as dogs—they won’t lick your feet!—they are very sociable creatures and they definitely miss companionship, even over the weekend.” In addition to feeding, cuddling, and playing with your furry friend, Urban Tails will even pick up your mail and water your plants. For kitties that need round-the-clock care, or just love human contact, Urban Tails plans to open a new boarding facility known as “The Resort” in October of 2007, complete with “cat suites”, toys, aquariums, and organic catnip.

The only downside to this new trend? Now that pets are getting the royal treatment, they may not want to go home again!