Take Paws The official pet travel blog of GoPetFriendly.com

GoPetFriendly’s Manifesto

by on Jan 5th, 2010
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It’s been seven months since we launched our web site and wrote our first blog post on June 1, 2009. In that time we made two road trips with our dogs, traveling 8,600 miles over eight weeks.  In that time we joined Facebook and Twitter, building relationships with hundreds of friends and thousands of followers.  In that time we got the lay of the land, figuring out what it is we need to do.

At GoPetFriendly, we are charging into 2010 – this new year, this new decade – with hope, enthusiasm, AND A MANIFESTO.  Our reason for being.  According to Google, a manifesto is defined as a public declaration of intentions.  Our manifesto is to shift society’s consciousness from an overall attitude of “pet tolerance” to one that more openly embraces and welcomes pets in all aspects of our lives. Isn’t that what the oft-touted term “pet friendly” should really mean?

What’s our rationale?  Our pets are our friends, our companions, and our partners.  We’ve accepted responsibility for their care, which includes providing opportunities for them to reach their highest potential. That potential can be more easily achieved by weaving our pets’ existence more fully into our day-to-day activities.  Isn’t that what belonging to a pack is all about?

Of course, just as we deserve to include our pets in our lives, there are people who prefer not to have our animals foisted upon them.  So pet owners must take care to minimize the imposition on others, within reason.

We will focus our efforts in the areas of pet travel, doggie dining, and leisure activities in the US and Canada.  To educate and challenge others to re-examine their “it’s just a dog/cat” beliefs, we will lead by extreme example – leaving behind a more conventional way of life to travel extensively with our dogs.  We will blog about our experiences and use social media and traditional public relations strategies to advocate for more pet access, the removal of weight and breed restrictions, and supporting businesses that choose to be pet friendly.

To assist others in adopting a pet-friendly lifestyle we will continue providing a free, up-to-date, easy-to-use web site that helps pet owners locate great places to stay and find entertaining activities to do with their pets.  The site will also include resources (veterinarians, pet supply stores, pet sitters, and dog walkers) to help resolve pet-related issues that may be encountered when traveling.  We are committed to adding as much information as we can find in order to be the most complete pet travel resource on the Internet.

Why are we doing this?  Why are we putting it out there?  Because we want to stand for something.  Because we want raving fans who will help us make a difference.  Because when the GoPetFriendly community says something is good, people will believe us.

So when you visit our site and read our blog, you’ll know what to expect.  We hope to incite people to act … or to react.  Too much?  We think not!  Tell us what you think!

Comments

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Michele Jan 11, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I love the manifesto. Our pets are family members, and just like children, as long as they are well behaved, it is time to include them in our travels. I love going to hotels and seeing well behaved dogs treated like an honored guest. That is the way it should be. I look forward to reading more of your travels.
Gina Jan 11, 2010 at 7:13 am
You're right Annal, there are many pet friendly hotels here on Dartmoor in and around Exeter, but they really mean dog friendly. Dog friendly related searches on Google are a lot more frequent than pet friendly, so it seems to be a common assumption that pet's usually means just dogs. I appreciate the work that GoPetFriendly are doing. There are so many dog friendly hotels and accommodation in the South West, and not many are aware of the many places that they can go on holiday, and not have to worry about leaving their dog with the neighbour!
Rod Burkert Jan 8, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Annal - Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. And you are absolutely right. First, let me elaborate and qualify about our pronoun policy. I re-read our manifesto to make sure we say "pets," not just dogs. Whew ... think we're good! Seriously, we are very conscious of saying/writing pets - and here's athe qualifier - unless what we're referencing clearly relates to dogs. Hence, dog walkers, not pet walkers. We also generally talking about "doggie dining" options - in all my travels, I don't know if I've ever seen a cat at a restaurant (not that they wouldn't be welcome at mine, if I had a one). And as you have, unfortunately, noticed pet friendly does not necessarily mean cat friendly. I suspect that is because more people are allergic to cats than to dogs, but I have no proof of that. Nonetheless, your point is well taken. As a gentle plug for our web site, that is why we have a separate search engine criteria for cats - so you know that the hotels that come back will accept feline companions.
AnnaI Jan 7, 2010 at 11:53 pm
What I would like to see in the manifesto is that "pets" doesn't mean just "dogs". As I travel with my cats, such dog-centric attitude bothers me, and not just when it comes from other pet (dog) owners. It has happened to us more than once that when a place (hotel, etc) said it was "pet friendly", what they really meant: dogs - yes, cats - no. Cats are pets too and yes, they travel.
molly the wine dog Jan 7, 2010 at 1:01 pm
oh, and my humans did not complain which kinda puts the blame on them. they just sat and steamed. there were also people in another room smoking a lot of weed. maybe it's just not the right hotel for them. woof!
molly the wine dog Jan 7, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Thanks so much for the lively discussion. I totally agree - not fond of misbehaving children or even adults when I travel. But, truly, I prefer the Dog Spa. I stay with loving caretakers when my humans travel. They feed me well, exercise me alot and really care. Then I get a bath before I go home. While I'm not fond of that part, my humans seem to like how I smell after a bath. I quickly look for something to roll in that smells better. If you'd like to know more about me, you can see my blog mollythewinedog.blogspot.com woof! and here's to many more excellent discussions like this one. lovingly, Molly
Rod Burkert Jan 7, 2010 at 11:13 am
Thanks Jim and Mary-Alice. It's great to see people "getting" our manifesto. We want to make it REALLY easy for people and pets to travel as a pack, yet still respect the wishes of those who do not want to have our pets "forced" on them. A key part of this respect will be our advocacy for training (and trainers), socialization, and exercise. Let's face it, there are a LOT of dogs out there that are under-trained, under-socialized, and under-exercised. If a dog does not behave well around its owner, in the home, he/she is unlikely to do well in public. And I think it's these pets that create the most problems for people who believe animals should be left at home.
Jim (DoggyBytes.ca) Jan 7, 2010 at 6:45 am
You guys are pioneers on the forefront of a new time where many pets are bone- a- fied family members. Family members do things together. They go for family walks, they visit beaches and parks together and they travel together. Go Pet Friendly is promoting family "togetherness" for pet and human family members alike. 2010 will be a great year for pets and their owners thanks to you guys. =)
Mary-Alice Jan 6, 2010 at 5:18 pm
These are terrific goals. So often I read comments on pet travel articles from people who feel strongly that dogs don't like to travel and prefer to remain home with a sitter or in a kennel -- I feel, just as strongly, that dogs prefer to be with their humans. If we establish a relationship with a dog, we should try to maintain it in the way that dogs understand a relationship to work -- which means pretty constant togetherness. Thanks for putting in the time to identify dog-friendly places and activities for the rest of us to enjoy! I also think that our relationship with a dog must include proper training and attention to the dog's exercise needs, so that the 4-legged part of our pack doesn't cause discomfort to others who have chosen not to share their lives with a dog.
Rod Burkert Jan 6, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Hi Molly. First of all, I want to agree with you. Every month, I send out this tweet: When you travel with your pet, you’re an ambassador for others who travel with theirs. Train 'em. Leash 'em. Clean up after 'em! (Note: the wording could be changed ever so slightly to apply to young children ... as Edie points out!) If GoPetFriendly was the couple in the next room, I would expect - and we would deserve - to be asked to leave the hotel. I am also curious if you registered a complaint and what, if anything, came of that? Finally, I think you have a great idea that provides me with a future blog post - a traveling pet owner's manifesto! Stay tuned.
Rebecca Jan 6, 2010 at 8:34 am
What a fabulous post - I can't wait to see what you guys do in 2010!
Edie Jan 5, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Molly the wine dog, I think that's partly the point of this manifesto -- that people who travel with pets need to be ambassadors for pet friendly travel so as to make others -- even the petless -- be more accepting of it. Yes, people behaving badly don't help the cause at all, but, then, people who aren't fond of children -- or travel to a five star resort to escape them -- would feel the same about guests who had screaming kids that were allowed to wander all around. And in the case of pets, it's the hotel's responsibility to talk to the owners so that other guests are not disturbed. Hotels benefit from pet-friendly policies financially; they need to make sure that benefit isn't undercut by ill-mannered guests.
Eric Goebelbecker Jan 5, 2010 at 10:48 pm
It only takes one insensitive or careless apple to spoil the whole bunch. (Or is that a banana? I always mess that up.) Excessive barking, long lines, and crappy patios notwithstanding, I look forward to a day where I can easily travel with one (or two) of my well-behaved dogs. This is a great manifesto. Thanks for your efforts.
molly the wine dog Jan 5, 2010 at 7:05 pm
how about a pet traveler manifesto that tells owners how to be cool with their pets. We just returned from a five star resort where the people in the room next to us left their dog in the room where he barked for five days. when they were in the room, the dog was tied up outside on a leash long enough that he crapped on our patio. we're very pet embracing people, but these people were stupid. help the pet owners by writing a manifesto I can have them sign when they have a room next to mine. two way street, please.

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