Why Take Our Dog Tinka On Vacation?

Tinka is a rescue dog, one of six dogs we have shared our home with over more than 45 years.

Most of those dogs have been of the rescued variety and all have been very loving.

Tinka is the smallest dog to live with us and in some ways has been the most problematic. After his owner died this little dog was passed around and became known as a biter. We were his last hope or he would be put to sleep.

Six years on he is mostly a very loving sociable dog but he hates going into kennels.

We decided a couple of years ago to take him with us on a one-week stay at a dog friendly apartment in Whitby.

It went so well that we have returned since for a two-week stay.

Where To Stay
First things first then and where will you stay?

The Internet is a great research tool and should prove very helpful.
Simply search for Dog Friendly Accommodation and see what comes up.
Good options are-

• A Caravan
• Camping
• A dog friendly apartment
  
• A Holiday cottage
• And there are even some pet friendly guesthouses and hotels in the U.K.
  

We chose a pet friendly apartment simpkly because it was in our desired location.

Remember it is your vacation primarily and so ideally should suit you too.

Getting there
The next hurdle is planning your journey.

If you plan on driving your own vehicle fine but if you want to use public transport there are some things to consider.

Previously we visited Menorca and Tinka stayed in kennels for two-weeks. However we chatted with a lovely young couple staying at the same Menorca hotel who had brought their dog on vacation.

They were from Switzerland but it was proving to be a costly vacation for them.

They were travelling around the island of Menorca but dogs are not allowed on local buses. This couple did not drive so could not hire a car. This meant paying for taxis and worse still some taxi drivers would not transport their dog.

Their vacation was proving difficult as well as expensive.

This highlights the importance of researching all aspects of a vacation with a pet included before you book and before you travel.

In England:-

• Dogs travel free on trains
• The rules relating to dogs on buses vary
• Locally bus drivers charge 50p for a dog. However, although a small dog should be free some drivers ignore this and still charge
• In North Yorkshire all dogs are free to travel on buses, no matter how large the dog is
• Many taxi drivers in the U.K. will not transport a dog

There are various regional differences. Locally bus drivers often refuse to carry more than one dog if the animals are with different passengers. In North Yorkshire multiple dogs on buses were not a problem.

To be fair Whitby and the surrounding area is very dog friendly. Your pet will usually be allowed in shops, cafes, pubs and some restaurants in that area but it is always wise to ask first.
Not all parts of the U.K. are so dog friendly.

General Advice, Hints and Tips

• Most pet friendly accommodation will have some rules. Make sure that you are fully aware of them. It may be that your pet must not be left alone, will not be allowed on the furniture or perhaps in the bedroom. Prepare for this. We take one of Tinka’s small soft beds with us so he has a familiar place to sleep and rest. You could pack a throw or cover if you will be unable to keep your pet off the furniture. We opt to obey any rules in consideration of the owner and the visitors who will follow us.
• If in doubt double check the booking terms. Contact the accommodation owner to make sure it is fit for your purpose.
• Contact local tourist information in the area you plan to visit. They should have a good idea of what is accessible to visitors with a dog.
• Read any information booklet in your accommodation as it will include useful information as well as the house rules.
• Even if there is not a No Dogs Please Sign ask before entering a cafe, pub, shop or other attraction with your pet.
• Remember on such a vacation you may have to take your pet with you everywhere. If you are travelling as a couple or more that is workable. If you are travelling alone it may not be.
• When you pack for your vacation remember to pack for your pet. We take along a favourite toy or two, water, small treats for the journey, nappy sacks for....well you know what for, tissues suitable for cleaning, hand wipes or hand gel, a dog brush, small towel, some dog food to tide us over until we shop and one small dog bed. If the weight of your luggage matters bear this in mind.
• We also take a small plastic dish to enable Tinka to drink water during the journey.
• Our usual vacation apartment includes dog bowls for water and food but yours may not.
• If necessary use a pet carrier for the journey and, or, a muzzle for your pet.
• Make sure your pet has an identification tag on its collar. If heaven forbid it ends up lost this is important.
• It is also essential your pet has been microchipped.
• Ensure your dog can cope with the journey. Test him or her out on a short bus, car or train journey before you book your vacation.
• Will the distance to your destination be problematic for your pet? You must consider your pet in all aspects of your vacation. You are choosing to travel, the dog is not!

A vacation abroad
It is up to you to decide if it is fair and a good idea to take your dog on a foreign vacation. If you are taking an extended vacation it may be worth considering. The U.K. rules for taking a dog with you out of the country are the dog must-

• Be microchipped
• Have had a rabies vaccination
• Have a pet passport or third country official veterinary certificate
  
• Have had a tapeworm treatment
• Be travelling in an authorized carrier and on an approved route

More info on taking a pet abroad can be found here

Remember
Clean up after your dog!

• It is not fair or the done thing to leave dog faeces where it lands.
  
• Pick it up.
• A dog cannot clean up after itself but you can.
• If you do not clean up in the U.K. you could receive an on-the-spot fine.
  

Related Reading

• Whitby, North Yorkshire, and a Dog-Friendly Vacation
• Count Dracula, Abbey Ruins and Whitby Town, North Yo...
• United Kingdom Vacation Tips
• Dogs, More Than Just a Hobby

Deciding whether to get a dog from a rescue centre, or not

So you have decided that you would like a little four-legged friend, namely a dog, to join your household?

Even if you are looking for a specific breed of animal it may be worth checking out your local rescue centres. Believe it or not pedigree dogs do occasionally end up in a rescue centre needing a new home.

However, it could be that the dog, pedigree or mongrel, is there because it has behavioural problems or more.

Buying a dog from anywhere can be just as fraught with problems though. Even if you buy a puppy, if you are not 100% sure of its first home and parentage, you could be in for a bumpy ride.

Personally I would recommend adopting or fostering a dog, or puppy, from a charity as all my rescued dogs have been so successful as pets. We did have one dog that was a slight disaster but he was a stray which we simply rescued from the streets and he did live with us for more than ten years.

This woman has never wanted a pedigree dog but there are some fabulous cross-breeds out there if you are a little choosy. These dogs usually have great characters, better health in the long run and less hang-ups.

When your new dog is adopted from a rescue centre though you have to accept that this dog will probably come with baggage, and I do not mean an overnight case.

Depending on why the dog was in the rescue centre in the first place, the dog could be physically and mentally scarred. It may have been beaten, starved, maltreated in any number of ways or simply neglected. Unfortunately there are all too many sad stories of animal cruelty these days.

If you are unsure about adopting a dog, from a rescue centre, you could always try fostering first. This would give you chance to have the dog with you, provide a temporary loving home and could ease the financial burden of having a pet.

It can be hard to give up a foster dog though and maybe you would end up adopting after all. However, if you are unsure fostering can really help the rescue charity temporarily, and enable you to assess if a dog is really for you.

Fostering sometimes is partially funded by the charity and therefore expensive veterinary bills will probably be paid for by them not you.

Remember that when you adopt a dog from a charity there will be some sort of fee and it may be more than you would expect. However this is necessary to prove your commitment to the animal.

Finally never discount an older dog. The dog may only be in the rescue centre because its owner has died or had to go into permanent residential care. This could mean that the dog is fully trained and well-behaved but also sorely missing his or her previous owner and home comforts.  Sure, you may want a puppy, but I have to say that the dogs we have taken in have all been between one and five-years-old and have all been little darlings. Well most of the time.

Dog Rescue Charities in the UK

There are many dog rescue charities around the country. Of course it makes sense to search for your new dog with a rescue service that is near to your home. This means that it will be easy to visit the centre, call back if you have problems and is just generally a more sensible idea.

The Internet offers lots of information about dog rescue charities, far and wide.

Traditionally, in England the RSPCA re-homed dogs however, as animal welfare is such a problem in the UK these days, there are now many smaller charities all over the country.

Consider offering your help in other ways, such as dog walking, donations or offering your help at the charity's sales and fairs for example.

Hints and Tips

• Research your local charities
• Decide before you visit any of them, what age and type of dog you are looking for. Having said that though the right dog will probably select you
• Ring the charity telling them your plans and making an appointment to visit.
• If in doubt about a particular dog take your time
• It may be possible to take the dog out for a walk or to your home for a brief visit. This could be necessary if you have children and or other pets
• Always try to ascertain as much of the dog's previous social and medical history as you can
• Any reputable dog charity will always complete a home visit before you can take your new pet home. An official will visit your home to make sure that it is suitable for a dog
• Consider your lifestyle and work commitments before choosing a dog
• There is no point choosing a dog that needs tons of exercise if you cannot supply this. Basically use your common sense and see what will work for you, your family and the dog, and what wont. You want the dog to be happy after all, don't you?
• If you are never, or rarely, home then really a dog is not for you
• Make sure that you know what the initial costs may be. The RSPCA will castrate or spay the dog before you take him or her home and you will be charged for this. Similarly if the dog needs treatment, such as teeth extracting, this will be done before re-homing and you may be required to foot the bill
• Think about additional expenses such as pet insurance, lead, collar, bed, cage, toys, vaccinations, micro-chipping the dog and the like. Not all of these will be essential or not already supplied but you need to know the potential costs.
• Can you really afford a dog? Much as the dog will desperately need a new home it will just be upsetting for all concerned if it does not work out. Work out how much the feeding bill will be for a week
• Consider fostering as it may suit you better. You could act as a temporary home for dogs waiting to be re-homed. A home is a better place for a dog to wait for a permanent home than languishing in a kennel.

Still think you good offer a dog in need a forever home>

Well get to it!

• Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals RSPCA Hull needs donations
• Are we really a nation of animal lovers
• RSPCA Hull needs donations