Pet Patrol

Dog Mountain came to our attention when Susie and I were at Camp Gone to the Dogs.  The proceeds from an auction at the end of our week at camp were dedicated to the support of Dog Mountain in northeastern Vermont near St.Johnsbury. Unfortunately our schedule did not allow for a visit on this trip, since we were traveling up the western side of the state into Canada on our way to Montreal.

Some of Susie’s Canadian friends brought an interesting place in Canada to our attention.  Dog Paddling Adventures is a group that offers adventures for dogs and their humans in Ontario province during every season of the year.

Right at the top of the list of things that Susie enjoys doing is making a trip to the dog park. It is amazing to see how she knows when we are getting close and as soon as she sees the fence with her friends – both canine and human – on the other side, she begins to vocalize and get excited. 

Susie wanted to share her experience crossing her first international border into Canada. Not only was she entering Canada, but crossing the border into French speaking Quebec where she is now known as Mademoiselle Suzette and  Mademoiselle Suzi.

Sunday evening of June 9, 2023 we rolled into Niagara Falls, Ontario and made our way to our base station for the next two nights, the Niagara Falls Fallsview Best Western. The hotel had been recommended to us by a friend at the dog park in Louisville, who told us how dog friendly the hotel was. They didn’t overstate it. While writing this article, I saw a site that lists the top 12 pet friendly hotels in the world and the Fallsview Best Western was on the list.

Traveling and can’t take your feline companion with you, but would like to enjoy some feline companionship – look for a cat café where you can enjoy a cup of tea or joe and relax petting a willing pussycat.

Taffy Morgan organized a field trip for campers who wanted to visit a local maple syrup farm, both to see how the syrup is produced as well as to purchase really high quality maple syrup to take home. Susie and I joined the group going to Dave Matt’s sugar shack on Thursday evening after dinner at camp.

Quick – when I say beach and lake resort, what's the first place that comes to mind? If you said Iowa, frankly, I'd be shocked, but for this review, you would be correct!

After leaving Montpelier we decided to start looking for a place to have lunch as we approached Burlington. We exited just before Burlington, but couldn’t find any restaurants close to I-89. Since we had our Garmin GPS to get back on track, we continued about five miles down the road until we came to Essex Junction and saw the Firebird Café on the left-hand side. Since this was obviously a local place and not a fast-food chain, we decided to stop and check it out.

Another pet friendly property that was brought to Susie’s attention is the Five Pine Lodge & Spa in Sisters, Oregon. Five Pine is also a Conference Center with room for varying sized meetings.

We had reached the halfway point of our day trip and would soon need to head back to camp in Vermont. Riding down the Maine coast there was an old fort marked on the map that looked interesting, Fort McClary at Kittery Point, so we decided to have a look. 

After our two night stay in Niagara Falls, Canada, it was finally time to head home.  The other adventures in the Niagara Falls area will appear later in the Guest Patrol, since they are not primarily related to pet travel. These will include the fireworks show on Sunday night, a visit to a large Buddhist temple and exploring the river down from the Falls, and the ride up to the Falls on the Maid of the Mist. Obviously Susie would not have enjoyed the fireworks display, nor would she appreciate the soaking we received near the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.  The pet friendliness of the Fallsview Hotel made it possible to make these short local side trips knowing that Susie was well cared for when I was gone whether for a meal or to see a site unsuited for pets. 

From our arrival at Camp Gone to the Dogs and seeing the various offerings, Susie was ready to try herding for the first time.   After speaking with the herding instructors, Roy and Debbie Johnson, we signed up for a private session on Monday morning.  Private sessions are fifteen minutes to prevent both dog and sheep from being to worn out.

On Tuesday, June 4, 2013, after breakfast we headed back to the herding field and pen for both a brief talk by Roy on herding and his experience, as well as another opportunity for camp dogs to try the herding experience. Susie signed up on the list and waited her turn.

Susie has for the moment declared a truce with all rabbits to focus on the need to have a safe holiday season with pets and their human companions. Whether it is Easter, Passover or Holy Week, there is a plethora of extra activity and extra holiday goodies to keep an eye on. Susie, like most dogs, has a set policy, if it falls on the floor it is legally mine. This means humans who have pets need to be especially watchful over what does fall on the floor or is accessible to their pets – whether they are dogs, cats, ferrets, pigs, iguanas and so on.

In our camp orientation package we were told not only of the activities and classes available at the camp, but also information about the attractions in the Marlboro vicinity. One of these attractions, Hogback Mountain, bore checking out, as the papers mentioned that it offered an incredible view.

On Saturday, June 8, 2013, we arrived at the hotel at 3:45 in the afternoon. We selected the location south of Montreal because the rates are less outside of the city and the hotel was listed as pet friendly. At this property there was no additional charge for Susie. 

The Homewood Suites by Hilton in Beaumont, Texas is one of the best properties in the area, if not the best. We found it as a home away from home. The hotel was both handicapped and pet friendly and the staff made us feel very welcome.

What’s green, near music and loves your pets? The answer is – the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a charming boutique hotel located about 15 minutes from the airport in the West End/Midtown Area. They have a car that can transport you to downtown and you are about 15 minutes away from Music Row. You are also a quick and cheap cab ride away from just about anywhere. The Hutton has been named Nashville’s greenest hotel and I know we as Boomers have become very conscious of this. They have dual flush commodes, a recycling program and bamboo furnishings and flooring.

Susie was pleased to find an inn in the United Kingdom that really speaks to dogs and their human companions. On the web site of the Joiner’s Arms one of the main menu items is “Man’s Best Friend.”

Susie is always looking for new great pet products that are not only dog friendly, but also environmentally friendly and safe. One has just been brought to our attention – the Cool Pet Pad from the Green Pet Shop. This product also fits well with traveling and riding in the car.

Generally, I write about hotels that stand still, however, this time, you get to take your hotel with you! If you can drive a car, you can captain a boat on a canal. After a short demonstration and briefing, you get the keys to your own floating Villa. You don’t ever have to worry about getting seasick, because these boats are so stable, you won’t spill your morning coffee. 

The week seemed to fly by and the time had come to leave camp and head north through Vermont to Canada. Susie had a fun and productive week and had made many new friends, both canine and human. She was going to miss her camp buddies especially Brie, Lucy, Rascal, Digby and another Aussie, Phil a blue merle from the Bronx. 

In the process of bringing Beau into his new home and as a member of the Pet Patrol, we have come across a neater method of potty training a puppy as well as giving us an idea to share for pet travel. Obviously cat owners are familiar with the ole litter box, and if they travel with their cat the litter box comes with to take care of their cat’s needs in the hotel room or RV.