Pet Patrol

Susie and Beau will let you know that this has been a tough year for them and their daddy - Nothing like a major medical issue to stir up the pot.  But we all want you to know what a great comfort it is to have a pet or pets as we grow older and begin to face a variety of medical challenges. Little did daddy know that he was training me to also be a therapy dog for him (and mamma) and Beau has learned much along the way even though he is only 9 months old.

So you think you've been there, done that? Well, let me test it right now – have you been to the Adventure Suites in New Hampshire? I didn't think so!

In Albany our new friends Sheri and Anne, who are already alumni of Camp Gone to the Dogs, told us about the camp and gave us an address to input into the GPS. The Garmin actually found it, but typical of most GPS’ it decided to route us by what it saw as the most direct route, which was in the back way through the woods.

Here's my question – do you think you can stay in a boutique hotel in mid-town Atlanta for under $200? The answer is a resounding YES! Now is it going to be 5 star – no, but how about 3 star in the best possible way? Check yourself into the Artmore Hotel built in 1924, sitting among the high rise buildings across from a MARTA station. Their address is 1302 W. Peachtree St., so you are close to the High Museum of Art, lots of great bars and restaurants and in the center of Atlanta's Cultural Arts District. It has an old Hollywood vibe with lots of black and white framed art of music and movie star icons.

Want to combine luxury for both you and your pet? Bardessono in Yountville, California is the place for you and your best friend. In fact for the one-time pet cleaning fee of $150 you can have up to two pets stay with you in your room.

If you’re a sucker for romance, the great outdoors and a laid back atmosphere, then I have just the place for you! Head south to Adairsville, Georgia and visit the Barnsley Resort. This property begins with a love story and I have to include the Timeline of this estate so you can appreciate your visit to this magnificent area. 

With the chill hitting the air and the thoughts of last year’s cold winter, Susie is directing her thoughts to a trip to south Florida for warmth, sun and sand. One property that is in one of the lists of top pet-friendly locations is located just north of Miami in Lauderdale by the Sea and provides access to a good portion of south Florida and a stay on the Atlantic coast.

The only words to describe Beau are “too cute!” Of course Susie calls him the “little dickens.” This may turn into a Lucy/Linus relationship because Susie says that she is the boss, but only time will tell. Needless to say we are all excited at the Boomer Travel Patrol to have a new member of the team, especially one so cute and full of mischief.

Beau wants to let everyone know that he is working hard to get ready for full participation in the Pet Patrol. He has already been in training with his daddy and big sis Susie. The little dickens has already mastered “Sit” and “Down,” and has had a perfect score the past 10 days on going potty in his potty box filled with horse bedding material. He also is learning “No,” “Off,” and “Leave it.” The little smarty even understands “get all the way in your box” when he tries to do a lazy two paws in and two out when he pees.

Worth mention for travelers is the BEM Gift Shop at exit (19) of Quebec 20 heading out of Montreal.  The location is very close to the highway and offers easy access and return to the road.

On Saturday, June 1, the team left Erie to drive to Albany, NY to be close to the camp the night before our arrival in Vermont. Albany was a good stopping point because it put us within 70 miles of Marlboro for an easy drive to registration between 12:30 and 2:30 pm on Sunday.

After leaving Montreal it was already past lunch time and we began to look for a place to stop and have a bite to eat. We left Quebec and barely had entered Ontario when we decided to take exit 814 off of Ontario 401 (the continuation of Quebec 20) which was the exit for Lancaster, Ontario.

One of Susie’s many male admirers brought an interesting and unique product to our attention that she would like to share with her many friends – Bowser Beer. What a great idea! Of course this beer is non-alcoholic and does not contain any hops which are toxic to dogs. In other words, do not give your dog human beer; instead buy him/her a supply of Bowser Beer.  

Question: What is historic, pet-friendly, eco-friendly, accessible for special needs and located in downtown Chicago? Kudos to you if you said the Burnham Hotel.

What an amazing week! This was an experience of a lifetime that can be repeated year after year if so desired and have the time, resources and ability to travel. There is no possible way to cover all the bases in a single week of camp. In fact campers are advised, especially the first year, not to try to do too much. Both you and your dog will wear out, both physically and mentally.

After mulling over the camp offerings on Sunday evening, we decided to enroll in four activities: Herding, Interpreting Your Dog’s Body Language, Loose Leash Walking, and Really Reliable Recall. Later in the week we added the Tricks class and a lecture on the herding whistle. Following the early 5 pm Sunday dinner, everyone had a chance to meet the instructors to ask questions about the classes and activities.

One of Susie’s many good friends, in this case a human one, told her about a marvelous camp for dogs and their significant others in the beautiful setting of Vermont. Susie’s ears perked up immediately with the familiar “let’s go” look on her face. She made it clear to her daddy that he should check in to this.

Susie wants to see more and more dog friendly restaurants where she can be with her daddy especially on road trips. In order to accomplish this she wants to get the word out that without proper canine etiquette this cannot happen. 

Debbie Murray is a dog enthusiast from LaGrange, KY. She currently has five dogs - all Miniature Australian Shepherds who share a house with her and her husband Paul. Debbie also breeds her pets on occasion to share this marvelous breed with other dog enthusiasts. Susie is excited because she hopes to be getting another mini Aussie to keep her company from Debbie's  next litter. Debbie has been kind enough to share this article on choosing a veterinarian with the Boomer Travel Patrol.

For more detailed information on Debbie and her dogs you can visit her web site Alangus Mini & Toy Aussies as well as her blog. This article is one recently featured on her blog and offers excellent advice on selecting a veterinarian.

On our arrival at camp on Sunday, June 2, it was a warm to hot summer day. Our room was on the second floor of Marlboro North and fortunately we brought a fan to help cool things down. Of course a front moved through and the rest of the week was cool, but for a couple of Southerners cool water and iced drinks were imperative.

Recently we had the unfortunate need to travel to Beaumont, Texas for a family funeral.  Since this amounted to a journey of 950 miles each way, it was imperative for us to stop for the night along our route.  We were looking for somewhere to divide up the trip into a two day drive, and Grenada, Mississippi was a little more than half-way.

As pet-friendly travel becomes more and more common we can expect the trend to even move to the cruise lines.  A 2005 court ruling requires all cruise lines to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act which opens the door to allow trained service pets to accompany their disabled owners on cruises. This is a start towards more open acceptance of pets on cruises.

Situated about 2 hours by car from Los Angeles is the fun-filled desert town of Palm Springs, the former playground of the Rat Pack, Elvis Presley and currently, the majority of stars in Hollywood. Talk about a great place to spend a week, or if you are visiting L.A., a long weekend away from the City.

This town has it all – great restaurants, a lively night life, fantastic shopping, fabulous tours and some of the hippest hotels in the world. 

Susie is always glad to hear from her canine friends, admirers, and boyfriends, both in the United States and abroad. She just received news from her German Shepherd buddy, Fritz, that there is a dog hotel at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany.  Of course Fritz, a bit on the fresh side, invited Susie to join him in one of the kennels at the hotel. Although Susie will pass on the opportunity for now, who knows what the future holds.