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It is estimated that over 25% of the world’s population travels with pets and according to the Airline Transportation Association, more than 500,000 animals fly each year. In fact, travelling with pets is becoming more and more popular. Consider these statistics.

Fun Facts about People Travelling with their Pets:
– 19% of dog owners take their pet with them when traveling (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, National Pet Owners Survey)
– 67% of pet owners travel with their pet (American Animal Hospital Association)
– 42% of pet owners have traveled out of state with their pet (American Animal Hospital Association)
– Dogs are the most common pet to take on trips (80%), followed by cats, birds, rabbits or fish (USA Today, May 9, 2006)

While approximately 1/3 of pet owners leave their pet with a friend or relative when travelling, many take their pet with them.

Thus, it makes sense for hotels to have a pet friendly policy.

Finding a Pet Friendly Hotel:
To locate a pet-friendly hotel, you can easily consult an internet-based pet travel agency online. Many websites offer a free search by city and list hotels, bread and breakfasts, ski resorts, campgrounds and beaches that are pet friendly.

Fortunately for pet owners, there are many pet friendly hotels to choose from when travelling.

Finding Boutique Hotels that Welcome Pets:
If you are travelling to New York this summer and looking for a dog friendly New York City hotel, you are in luck. There are many boutique hotels in New York that welcome pets. A few hotels surpass expectations and openly welcome pets by offering services for your pet.

Hotel Services for your pet may include:
– Local dog walking services
– Grooming
– Cookies for special occasions
– Pet taxi
– Training
– Doggie treat

Other amenities may include food and water bowls, doggie sidewalk bags and kitty litter pans and easy access to a local dog park.

When booking your hotel, ask what services the hotel offers to accommodate you and your pet. Many boutique Manhattan hotels will go the extra mile to ensure that you and your pet have a pleasant stay.

Travelling with your Pet:
While most pet owners travel with their pet on the road, many pet owners take their pet with them on the plane. If you are flying with your pet, call the airline to check any regulations and requirements for pet travel.

If you are renting a car, it is suggested that you put together a driving map with a list of pet-friendly rest-stops and restaurants. Also make sure that the rental car agency is friendly.

Once you arrive at your hotel, the hotel should be able to provide you with a list of pet-friendly restaurants, as well as a list of local parks.

Summary:
Finding a pet friendly hotel is easier than you may think. The number of Americans traveling with their pets has increased over the years and more hotels are becoming pet-friendly in response to the growing “pets-as-family” trend.

To find a pet friendly hotel near your travel destination, ask your local travel agency for recommendations or search online. There are many online websites dedicated to travelling with pets and many offer hints and tips on where to stay and places to check out.

So next time you think about leaving your pet home, reconsider. There are many options for travelers with pets, and pet owners are no longer limited to campgrounds. Boutique pet-friendly hotels welcome pets and offer services to pamper and take care of your pet.

For a dog or a small child, living in a cabin can be a huge treat, with lots of places to explore and play in. However, it’s best to keep an eye out to make sure that they are safe when enjoying their time outdoors and in.

When you first buy or rent a cabin, or are coming for a visit to your vacation residence, do a walkthrough to make sure that there are no unwanted animals or insects currently residing in the home. Black widow and brown recluse spiders make their home in the North Georgia mountains and tend to like dark, undisturbed areas. Check corners, untouched items, etc for signs of these spiders. Shake out bedding, clothing, and towels if they have been left lying for a while.

Another walkthrough outside is necessary to make sure that there are no poisonous plants or animals residing in the immediate area. Poison ivy can make a vacation wretched for a child or pet that stumbles into it. Some ornamental plants that thrive in many Georgia homes and gardens can pose a threat, such as Lily-of-the-valley and oleander, as well as common plants like buttercups and bracken ferns. Teach your child not to eat anything found in the woods unless given permission and keep your pets on a leash until you’ve checked out the immediate area.

Georgia is home to 6 varieties of poisonous snake: the Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Coral, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake and the Pigmy Rattlesnake. Children and pets are much more susceptible to the poison of these snakes than adults and special measures might have to be taken to discourage snakes from viewing your home as their home. Most of the time, snakes won’t bother people and pets if they are not bothered, but children and pets tend to be curious and heedless of danger.

Most wild animals don’t pose a threat to your pets and children. However, there is always the chance that your child or pet might surprise a wild animal. Bears are common in the north Georgia mountains and can be aggressive if surprised or if they are searching for food. Teach your child not to approach or feed any wild animal, no matter how cute or non-threatening looking. Teach them what to do if they encounter a bear. Tell them not to stick their hands in dark places without making sure that there’s nothing in there that might take offense to their intrusion.

Pets should be kept under control when allowed outside; if they are not absolutely reliable about sticking around and coming when called, it’s best to keep them on a leash. A pet can harass wildlife and pick up parasites and diseases by running in the woods, eating tainted meat or fighting with a wild animal infected with a virus. Rabies is still alive and well in the southern U.S.; make sure your pet is up-to-date on its vaccinations. Also, the stories about dogs leading bears back to their owners are not all legend. Keep your pet under control.

Wildlife and plants are not the only things that can be dangerous for your children and pets in northern Georgia. The wilderness holds many natural dangers, such as cliffs, rivers, inhospitable climates and, of course, the lack of directional signs. Your children should be taught how to avoid getting lost and, if they do become lost, what to do. Proper attire is also imperative to dealing effectively to sudden weather changes. A light rain shell doesn’t add much weight to a pack and can mean the difference between soaked and relatively dry.

A wholesome respect for the power of natural features will also not go amiss. Rivers can be deceptively fast and deep, as well as having hidden undertows and currents. Cliffs and ravines can be tricky to traverse safely. With these, as with just about every aspect of the north Georgia wilderness, common sense and education go a long way to keeping your children safe.

Pets, as always, should be controlled and prevented from dashing headlong into an unknown stretch of water or down a new path. Even a strong swimmer can be overcome by an unexpected current or slip on a crumbling path. Obedience training is a must for dogs taken into wilderness areas, even if they are never let off the leash.

Prevention is the key to having a fun time at the family cabin. Teaching children how to respect the environment and what is in it will keep them safe. Training and controlling pets will keep them safe as well, so that you can focus on the many natural beauties surrounding you at your north Georgia cabin.