Camping With Pets

Many of us have furry, four-footed friends that are a big part of our lives. With proper training and preparation, they can be part of our camping and RVing lifestyle. You need to always be aware of two important aspects of camping with pets: 1) your pets' safety and comfort and 2) avoiding subjecting fellow campers to unwanted exposure to your pets. Just like you and your human family, your pets will need some time to adjust to camping or RVing and you need to provide for their safety and comfort. NEVER leave your pets unattended in your camp or RV. Bring along their favorite food and water dishes and a few favorite toys. NEVER let you pets roam free. They may get in trouble with other campers or other campers' pets, they may leave unwanted deposits, and they may become attractive meals or other targets for local predators. Most of our pets won't have the experience to adequately defend themselves against wild animals. I had a friend who brought their cat with them and no one ever really knew the cat was around. She stayed in their trailer all the time and never made a sound. I didn't even know he liked cats. The license plate frame on his big pickup truck said "Cats Flattened While You Wait". Some other members of our group had dogs. Most were well-behaved, quiet, and friendly and quickly became beloved camp mascots. On the other hand, I tried taking our dogs on an outing or two and quickly learned they weren't the camping types! I found them noisy and difficult to control so we opted to leave them home after that. They were generally well-behaved at home, but the novelty of camping threw them for a loop. Perhaps I could have trained them to be better campers if I had had more patience, but it was easier just to leave them at home.  We brought our cat along when we spent the summer living in our RV while we worked at a resort.  She was pretty scared to begin with, but adapted to life in camp surprisingly quickly and since she was basically an indoor cat she was safe and never a problem to anyone around us.  One unexpected thing we learned from that experience was how many hiding places there were in our RV!

Medical needs. Just like us, our pets sometimes have special medical needs that will need attention during an outing. Be sure to bring along any medications that are currently in use. If you're traveling any significant distance from home, bring along vaccination records. Specific pet first aid kits are available for dogs and cats to give you convenient supplies to deal with common injuries and ailments.  When traveling and/or staying away from home, research available veterinary services along your route and near your destination.  One of my daughters was bitten by a dog during one of our outings.  Since the owners couldn't provide vaccination records, local law enforcement quarantined the dog for two weeks at the owner's expense and I had to foot the bill  for my daughter's examination and treatment.

Noisy pets. Noisy pets will quickly bring the wrath of fellow campers. Either find a way to keep them quiet or leave them home! That may seem harsh, but it is reality. You may find yourself in a dangerous physical confrontation with angry campers or they may seek to harm your pets in order to shut them up. Far better to leave them with a friend or in a kennel than risk the physical harm that could come to them -- or you! And though kennels can be expensive, they're not nearly as expensive as law suits if your pet injures someone or the cost of repairs if they tear up things in your RV or the vet costs if your pet is injured or gets ill.  As mentioned above, one of my daughters was bitten in the face by an unrestrained dog.  In addition to medical expenses, the owner had to deal with a costly two week quarantine of their beloved pet because they couldn't prove rabies shots.  Fortunately my daughter was not seriously injured and healed quickly.

Pet sanitation. Developed campgrounds and many road side rest areas will have specially marked pet areas where you can take your pets to "do their business". If your pet soils the grass in or around your camp or anyone else's, clean it up immediately. If you are boondocking where there is no designated pet area, take your pets far from any other campers and avoid letting them soil trails, roads, or public areas where people or vehicles may pass.   If there is any doubt about using an appropriate pet area, carry a plastic bag with you and clean up after them.  No, it isn't fun, but IS your responsibility.

Pet Provisions. Of course you will need to bring along food for your pets sufficient to last the length of your trip. You should also pack a pet first aid kit. Check with your veterinarian to determine what to bring along. If your pets require any special medication, make sure you bring it along. Where will your pet sleep? If they normally sleep with you at home, you should probably try to let them sleep with you when camping. If they have a bed of their own, bring it along if it is practical to do so. The last thing you or your fellow campers need is a restless pet running around or whining all night long.

Some people rely on their pets for additional security in camp.   Clearly a 100 lb snarling Rottweiler will deter all but the most determined burglars, but even a yapping Pekinese may be enough to attract enough attention to send them looking for safer pickings.

Regulations. Be sure to check local laws and regulations. Call ahead to developed campgrounds to find out if they are pet friendly. Check with the land managers (rangers) for BLM and Forest Service areas to see if pets are allowed and if there are any special threats or considerations you need to plan for. Pets are discouraged in many areas where predators are prevalent. Better to leave Fluffy at home than have her become a snack for a coyote, mountain lion, bear, or a raccoon!

Wild animals may present a threat to your pets, especially if  you are boondocking.   You pets probably haven't had experience with wild animals and their natural curiosity may lead them to unpleasant or even dangerous encounters with local wildlife.  I grew up in a rural environment and even with dogs who were raised there we usually had to pull porcupine quills from their noses at least once or twice each summer and more than once they came home with the unmistakable proof of an encounter with a skunk!  Raccoons are kind of cute but they can be very ferocious and often carry rabies so you don't want to mess around -- or let your pets -- mess around with them.

 
Don't show up at a resort or campground with a pet if you haven't confirmed a pet-friendly reservation.   You may be turned away or have to pay higher than expected fees.  Indoor accommodations sometimes need to be kept free to meet the needs of customers with allergies.  Properly cleaning a non-pet room so it is usable again after a pet intrusion is time consuming and expensive process, which YOU will be held legitimately liable for if you violate pet rules.

Have a purr-fectly good trip!