Hotel do's and don'ts

By Jean Sabatelli, AnimalForum.com staff
Copyright 1999, Jean Sabatelli. Used with permission.

Be a good guest and don't spoil the privilege of staying in a hotel/motel with your pet.

Don't:

• Allow your pet to sleep on the beds or chairs
• Bathe your dog in the bathtub
• Leave old food in the sink
• Allow your pet to mess on the floor or the bed
• Allow your pet to "mark" (lift leg or spray)
• Allow your pet to chew or claw the furniture or bedding
• Allow your cat to sharpen claws
• Clean up accidents with hotel/motel towels
• Leave your pet loose in the room while you are gone
• Leave your dog unattended if he barks

Do:

• Call ahead and make sure pets are welcome
• Clean up all hair and powder mess if you groom in the room
• Keep your pet on a leash when out of the room and car
• Keep your pet crated when you are out of the room
• Provide your own pet bedding
• Bring your own poop-scoop and plastic bags
• Scoop up all your pet's messes and dispose of them properly
• Carry clean up materials (paper towels, towels, urine deodorant spray for accidents)
• Dispose of litter box contents in outside trash receptacle
• Notify the management of any damage and offer to pay for it

Remember: Every year there are fewer and fewer hotels/motels that will allow pets to stay. Each and every one of us must not only be responsible for what we do, but take the effort to make sure others are responsible too. Even if it means cleaning up some other dog's mess.