The Start of Hurricane Season: Tips for Pet Owners on a Budget

By: Andrea Free

During the summer months in the United States, southern states like Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas are affected by hurricanes from the Atlantic Ocean. While hurricanes can happen anytime, the season is from the beginning of June to the end of November, with August through October being the peak.

The purpose of this article is to provide tips to pet owners who may find themselves in a situation where they would have to evacuate their home. I am aware there are circumstances in which pet owners cannot take their pets during a disaster due to lack of resources (transportation, animal carriers, money, etc.); however, I hope the following will be useful, especially to those with limited resources. The following should be helpful in many evacuation-type situations and should be used in addition to any other plans you have in place for you and your family.

First, I would like to note the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) was passed in October of 2006 to help prevent pets from being left behind in the event of a disaster. Thousands of pets were left behind during Hurricane Katrina because pet owners were unable to take their pets. There are various reasons for this, but one of the main reasons is busses taking people out of town did not allow animals. Under the new law, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must work to develop plans for evacuations that will incorporate pets and service animals.(1)

While this law is a good start, I’m sure we would all feel better knowing there are some things we, as pet owners, can do to prepare.

Here are some tips:

1) Have a checklist ready. An evacuation can be very rushed. It will be extremely beneficial to prepare a list of items you need to take for your pet.

2) Talk to friends and family. If you don’t think you will be able to take your pet with you in the event of a disaster, talk to neighbors, friends, or family to see if they will help.

3) Do research. Chances are you have some idea of where you would evacuate to during a disaster. Find shelters and resources for you, your family, and your pet ahead of time. If you plan to stay with someone you know, make sure they know you are bringing your pet. If your plan is to stay at a hotel, do a search on HotelsAllowingPets.com (HAP) for pet-friendly hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to, and always have a back-up plan.

4) See how your pet responds to a car ride. Prior to an emergency, take your pet for an occasional car ride to see how they react. A disaster is not the time to find out that they are scared of riding in the car. (Under the Travel Tips section of HAP, we provide articles with general travel tips and traveling with cats.)

5) Set aside extra supplies. Pet food can be expensive, so rather than buying an extra bag to set aside in case of an emergency, start setting aside a scoop a week in a sealable plastic container. As far as supplies (kennels, leashes, travel dishes, blankets, etc.), shop at discount stores, or see what you can find at garage sales throughout the year. With some thrifty shopping and by spreading it out over time, it’s completely possible to prepare the supplies your pet will need during an evacuation.

The five tips mentioned above can be done with limited resources and should be in addition to normal pet care such as keeping your animal up-to-date on shots and making sure they have proper identification (tags and/or microchip).

Dr. Susan Nelson from Kansas State University provides some more information about evacuating with a pet:

(1)“President Bush Signs Bill to Leave No Pet Behind in Disaster Planning and Evacuation.” The Humane Society of the United States. 6 Oct. 2006. 16 June 2009. http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/president_bush_signs_pet_Act.html

Pet-Friendly Hotel Directory Implements Fundraising Program for Non-Profit Animal Shelters and Humane Societies for Half of Proceeds

CORVALLIS, Ore. – June 1, 2009 -- In order to better serve their customers and to assist non-profit animal organizations at the same time, HotelsAllowingPets.com (HAP) has designed a fundraising program. In order to carry out the program, coordinators seek the help of non-profit animal shelters and humane societies. Half of the proceeds will be donated to their organization when they successfully solicit new hotels in their region to add to HAP’s directory.

HAP is an Internet directory for those who travel or are displaced with their pet. With the help of charitable organizations HAP will be able to add more of the 44,000 estimated pet-friendly hotels throughout the United States to their directory. HAP’s ultimate goal is to be a comprehensive and up-to-date resource.

Those who are accepted into the program will contact hotels in their region and appeal to Hoteliers to help raise money for their cause in exchange for a quality product at a low price. There is no cost required to perform a membership drive and no materials needed. The organization doesn’t have to spend time or money on order taking, product handling, or delivery.

The recognition that many people cannot donate as they would like in a recessed economy leads to the fact that these hotel contributions remedy some of the increased need for support and establishes donor relationships.

The owner of HAP and coordinator of this program stated: “We hope to be able to benefit all parties involved by allowing non-profit agencies to perform membership drives; Hoteliers are receiving affordable Internet advertising and the chance to give to their local humane society or animal shelter; our website visitors gain access to an increasing number of hotels across the US; and charitable organizations get the opportunity to raise funds for equipment, supplies, and animal care without having to invest money or deliver products.”

For additional information, contact Michele Peters Schamp or visit HotelsAllowingPets.com.

CONTACT:
Michele Peters Schamp
Owner/Operator
Phone: 541-908-4949
admin@hotelsallowingpets.com
www.HotelsAllowingPets.com

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Hotel Pet Deposits

27May2009

By: Andrea Free

Pet owners often question how pet-friendly a hotel can be if they charge a high and/or non-refundable pet deposit. They also wonder why they are being charged when, as far as they can tell, their pet isn’t dirty. Are these hotels just taking our money and laughing all the way to the bank? Or, is there more to this scenario we aren’t aware of? Maybe our pets aren’t as “clean” as we think they are. Let’s find out once and for all.

The first myth to put to rest is just because your pet has been washed and groomed it doesn’t leave behind any extra mess. While some people do take better care of their animals than others, it must be noted that even though we like to think our pets are clean, they leave behind dander, hair, and saliva. This is not a bad thing – it’s completely normal and unavoidable.

Humans that are allergic to animals are allergic to the dander and saliva that animals leave behind and can attest that extra cleaning must be done to remove pet dander, hair, and saliva. Their allergies will act up if a room is not properly cleaned. More advanced methods are required to thoroughly clean a room where a pet has stayed. Even if you are not allergic, do you really want to stay in a room that hasn’t been adequately cleaned after the last pet stayed in it?

So, now that we know that animals leave things behind regardless of how well their owner takes care of them, the next topic to address is the issue of pet deposits or fees. It can be discouraging to have to pay a pet deposit that is sometimes high and/or non-refundable in addition to the cost of a hotel room.

I spoke with lower priced hotels ($100 or less a night for a standard room) and higher priced hotels ($100 or more a night for a standard room). I questioned them about their pet policy and cleaning practices and determined the following:

Of the lower priced hotels, one charged between $25-150 non-refundable fee based on the size of the pet and the likelihood it may cause damage (ranging from lingering pet smells, hard to remove hair and dander, damaged furniture, etc.). The only additional cleaning they perform is a flea bomb but note they do not claim the fee is for cleaning. Another charges a one-time non-refundable pet fee of $150 and does a very thorough cleaning after an animal has stayed in the room. In addition to their normal routine, the deep clean consists of shampooing the carpets and cleaning fixtures and decorations as well as having a local vendor spray chemicals to kill any fleas that may be left behind.

Of the higher priced hotels, one charges a $25 one-time non-refundable cleaning fee. They perform additional cleaning and disinfecting of the furniture and decorative items and shampoo the carpets when necessary. Another charges $35/night and allows pets of all sizes. They too perform a deep cleaning that goes above and beyond that of a non-pet room.

In many cases, more expensive hotels have more expensive pet deposits/fees than cheaper hotels – after all, they are more expensive for a reason. Higher priced hotels often cater to pets in way their cheaper counterparts do not. The treats and extra services they provide to pets require extra staff, supplies, and time.

Doing a search on HotelsAllowingPets.com for pet-friendly hotels in advance of a trip can be beneficial because it is likely you may find one to accommodate your needs. Chances are, if you stay at a hotel with a high, non-refundable pet deposit/fee, it is going to use deeper cleaning methods than a hotel without a pet deposit/fee. It all comes down to your personal preference and whether you want to stay in a room that has been thoroughly cleaned or if you would rather save some money and have a room that may not have had any cleaning beyond that of a regular, non-pet room.

Also, when trying to decide whether to take your pet on business trip or vacation, some important aspects to consider are how long you will be gone, if there is someone that can take care of your pet, and how upset you and your pet will be if you leave your pet at home. Sometimes it can cost just as much to board your pet at a kennel, so you really could be better off taking your pet with you. And, if you are going on a trip that is longer than a couple of days, it may give you, your family, and your pet more peace of mind to take them with you. After all, how nice would it be to have Fido run on the beach with you every night?

If you still aren’t convinced the money you pay for a pet deposit/fee is reasonable, feel free to inquire about their policy and find out what type of cleaning they do. In most cases, the hotelier has valid use of the funds they collect and it may seem like a bargain. Keep in mind what seems like a high upfront fee, may actually turn out to be cheaper than a nightly fee depending on the length of your stay. There are always exceptions and even some hotels that don’t charge a deposit/fee at all. Another good idea is to visit their website and read comments left about the hotel’s pet rooms. How better to find out about their rooms than from previous customers?