Pet Patrol

Speaking of unique places to stay that are also pet friendly, the two shepherd’s huts at Wriggly Tin in Hampshire certainly fill the bill. Being a herding dog, Susie is especially interested in the possibility of her and Beau or her European buddies to stay in a place where she can once again say, “Where are the sheep?”

If you are unable to take your pet or pets with you on a trip or vacation, who can you trust with your best friend? Although you may take your pet with you on trips, there will be times when this is not an option – or at least a good option.  One good example is international travel, where taking your pet may put it at undo risk aboard an airplane in the luggage compartment. Even though many airlines arrange for a heated and oxygenated area for traveling pets, there are other issues that might make this a poor idea especially on long flights. 

After visiting and making our purchases at the King Arthur Flour complex, Susie and I headed back south on I-91 to I-89 to head north toward Canada. Only a short way up the road we saw the signs that a Vermont Information Center was just ahead. We pulled into the rest stop so Susie and I could both answer the call of nature. We were amazed at what we found there.

Well, here's one for the guys and for the ladies who love their cars. The V8 Hotel in Stuttgart, Germany is located in the old former Stuttgart airport building near Meilenwerk, where classic cars are available for viewing or purchasing – this was the airport hangar from the 1920's. There is not much in the immediate vicinity, but it is right by the Autobahn and 10 minutes from town. The bottom line is to come to this location by car and  there is ample free parking at the hotel.

Susie and Beau have new friends in South Florida - Miss Roxie, a blond tea cup Yorkie and her long time companion Miss April Kirkwood. They are bringing new insights to the Pet Patrol.

The Pet Patrol rolled into Erie around 6:00 pm on Friday, May 31 after the long drive from Louisville ready for a good night’s rest before proceeding on their journey to Camp Gone to the Dogs.  For those travelling to this hotel, be aware that the street address is misleading, so a typical GPS will not know that the actual hotels in this area are behind the shopping center on the main road which has the address. The TownePlace Suites is located behind the other hotels in the corner of the property.

Susie is pleased to learn that her home town of Louisville, KY is listed as 9th in the top-ten pet friendly cities in the United States. Louisville was named as one of the friendliest cities for pets by priceline.com.

Well, I finally found a hotel that truly caters to our demographic, the Baby Boomers, because they actually have a “Baby Boomer Rate!” I was so excited to see this and even more excited to get in on the fun of this retro property.

As boomers we have seen the unfortunate disappearance of many of the smaller local drive-ins, diners, restaurants, and quaint local motels that we grew to love as children. Also many of the small shops and stores have also bitten the dust.  I remember the joy of going up to the neighborhood Rexall soda fountain for a chocolate or cherry coke, looking at the latest comic books and then walking down to the Woolworth’s five and dime where I could buy some new toy figures and soldiers that we used in our creation of new worlds in the family den during bad weather.

Susie is always looking for great places for pets to stay and one of her friends told her about this great bed and breakfast in West Central Massachusetts. Restful Paws really got her attention because it might be classified as people-friendly because it is geared to pets first. Susie said what with “Great Name!”

Have I got a surprise for you! Who says you have to go overseas to stay in a charming bed and breakfast that also gives you cooking classes? Don't get me wrong, going to Italy, France, Spain, etc. is amazing, but if you don't want to break the bank, go to Cincinnati! Yes, I said Cincinnati, as in Ohio.

Susie was delighted to find a unique travel and vacation experience in northwest England. The Farmhouse at “A Corner of Eden” is located near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria and is another pet friendly property that can be easily accessed in particular by our European patrol members.  Kirby Stephen is 94 miles north of Manchester and 75 miles southwest of Newcastle.

Susie has been concerned for some time of stories she has heard about pets taken on airline flights. A recent news item has brought this concern to the front again as the DOT (Department of Transportation) has just expanded the rules requiring the reporting of incidents involving live animals during flights.  The rules only apply to dogs and cats. These new regulations will take effect on January 1, 2015.

Susie has been talking to her British cousins about great places for dogs in the UK so we can provide recommendations for places our European readers can visit with their best friends. One of her pals from across the water brought a whole bunch of hotels and B&B’s to our attention in the United Kingdom. Susie and Beau are ready to hop on the Cunard Queen Mary II to visit them.  This option was featured in a recent pet patrol article entitled “Cruise with your Pet?: The Options are Limited.”

Looking for an incredible place to enjoy luxury accommodations for both you and your pet, the Allison Inn & Spa in Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a great place to stay. The Inn is listed as one of the top pet friendly hotels in the United States.  There is a one-time fee of $50 per pet whether you stay a night, weekend or spend a week enjoying the Spa and Oregon’s wine country.

My kind of town – Chicago! And my kind of hotel – the Talbott! I don't know about you, but I love big cities, however, when I go to my room, I want to take the “big” out of the city and feel more cozy. The beauty of staying at this property is that the location is close to the Magnificent Mile, nightlife and museums, but it sits a few blocks away on a quiet tree lined street which gives you the best of both worlds.

Once again Susie says what – things we need to be aware of during the busy holiday season to ensure the safety of our beloved pets. Whether you have a dog or cat, or some other variety of pet such as a ferret, hamster, guinea pig, bird, lizard or other, there are many things to watch for during this crazy and busy time of the year.

After sharing their home-made dog biscuits with their local friends, their friends have requested that Susie and Beau share the great dog biscuit recipe that their daddy bakes for them on a regular basis.

Susie is on point for the New Year to start running out of the gate with her New Year’s resolutions for 2014. The question is – has she bitten off more than she can chew? 

As you can see from her latest photos, Susie is all set to go for Halloween. She has been taking test flights on her broomstick with her little black cat familiar, and although she is looking forward to celebrating Halloween wanted to share some advice with her friends – after all she is a good witch.

Time, 3338 miles, 7 states, 2 provinces, and hundreds of dog treats fly by quickly when you’re having fun! But every great journey has a beginning and begins with the first steps. Susie was born ready, and turned out to be a great traveler. She and her pal, Lambchop, were packed and ready to roll.

Susie and Beau both want all of our followers to have a happy and safe Fourth of July with their pets. Many of the activities centered on the birthday of our nation are safe and enjoyable for both pets and their humans.

Susie and Beau are ready to celebrate National Dog Day next Tuesday, August 26, 2014. Of course around them, every day is dog day, but they love having a day of recognition where the importance of dog adoption and placement is emphasized.

Hello Boomers! Remember when you went to Florida for Spring Break? Well, I was lucky enough to do that in college and just ran across a motel where I stayed back in the late sixties! It’s still there and owned by the same family! I was really excited to see the place and it brought back many fun memories. Oh no, I won’t be telling any stories - what happens in Cocoa Beach, stays in Cocoa Beach.