2008 Grades for U.S. Pet Travel Industry

DogFriendly.com™, a leader in publishing world-wide pet travel guides for dogs, announced their 2008 report card for the dog-friendly travel industry. The website has graded lodging, campgrounds, airlines, trains, buses, parks, beaches, restaurants, stores, attractions and pet sitters for their service to travelers with pets. Here’s a glimpse of how pet friendly the different travel areas are.

    • Lodging: A-

    From a grade of A last year, lodgings in US and Canada received an A- for charging larger pet fees. Only about 35% of the lodgings rooms allow pets of this year.

    • Campgrounds: B-

    If you think your dog can visit any campground with you, check again. It is now more difficult to look for campgrounds that allow dogs, especially with out of favor breed, and more new restrictions too.

    • Air Transportation: C-

    If your pet is less than 8 inches tall and less than 15 pounds, you can bring it in the cabin (Grade:B). Bigger dogs, and this is almost 80%, go in cargo (Grade:D).

    • Trains and Buses In Cities: C

    Some cities don’t allow small pets even in carriers, but Boston, Seattle, Toronto and San Francisco are allowing dogs of all sizes on leash in their buses and trains.

    • Parks: B-

    Though most people can still enjoy the parks with their dogs, they should select the best parks and understand where dogs can and can’t go. Most U.S. National Parks restrict dogs significantly.

    • Beaches: B-

    From last year, there are now more beaches that have allowed dogs during certain seasons, times or with permits required. About 15% of beaches in the U.S. and Canada are dog-friendly with leash requirements.

    • Restaurants: B-

    The government’s “health codes” in some areas won’t allow dogs inside restaurants. But there are movements by cities to be more pet-friendly on patios and to issue more variances.

    • Stores and Shopping Malls: B

    Dogs are allowed in most of the stores in U.S. and Canada, except in grocery stores and restaurants. The bigger restriction here is the shopping malls, there are very few indoor malls that allow dogs.

    • Attractions (Private Sector): B-

    Most outdoor attractions allow pets,but it is difficult to find pet-friendly indoor attractions.

    • Day Kennels and Pet Sitters: B-

    There has been a rise in demand for day kennels and pet sitters this year and also more services for traveling dogs than last year.

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