Many people think travel and animals don’t mix. It’s true:
Some types of travel aren’t suited for pets. Try explaining to the cruise line
that your senior dog has anxiety when you aren’t around. Likewise, traveling
with pets can certainly be expensive when you are buying an airline ticket for
the cat to ride under your seat. With RVing, one of the great benefits is that
you can satisfy your wanderlust while bringing along your furry friends.
But before you pack up Fido and head for the campground,
take a few minutes to make the most of this adventure for you and your
four-legged companions.
10 Tips for RVing with Pets
1. Make a packing list of things your pet will need. Food,
water, dishes, leashes, waste-pickup bags, and a litter box for the feline
family members are givens. But you may want to consider bringing treats, toys,
a brush, an exercise pen, or a crate. Don’t forget any medications your pet may
take.
2. Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date.
3. Call the campground to make sure they allow pets. You may
also want to ask if there are extra pet fees. Some campgrounds have breed
restrictions, and many have a limit to how many furry friends you can bring.
4. If you are traveling for an extended time, or going to a
remote area, make sure you have enough food, especially if your pet prefers a
brand that is not readily available.
5. Make sure your animals’ tags are current with your cell
phone. You’ll be traveling, so your home address or home phone number won’t be
much help if they wander off. No one wants to think their pet will get lost,
but accidents happen. Our first week on the road, one of our boys got
distracted and left Nigel unattended. It was only for a minute, but in that
time, he wandered off to another campsite. Thankfully our neighbor was
understanding and called my cell phone right away. I walked over to get Nigel
and found him sitting on his new friend’s lap.
6. Always pick up after your pet. Please! It’s the courteous
thing to do.
7. Make sure your pets have been treated for fleas and
ticks. You don’t want to encourage any stowaways in your RV.
8. Read and follow the campground rules. Many campgrounds
have designated areas for pets, and some even have dog parks.
9. Many national parks don’t allow pets on trails, in the
backcountry, or on waterfronts. Call ahead or go to the website of the national
park you are visiting so you can plan accordingly.
10. This is a no-brainer, but if you are going to leave your
pet alone in the RV for a few hours, make sure they have plenty of water, food,
a place to potty (pee-pee pads work well), and proper ventilation or air
conditioning.
Our pets have brought much joy to our RV adventures. We’ve
hiked badlands with Nico, sat around many campfires with Nigel, and driven many
miles with Meow Cow curled up in our laps. Sure, there have been times when
we’ve had to make special arrangements, but for the most part, it’s been a
simple process and worth every ounce of effort.
Do you #GoRVing with pets? Any advice or stories you can
share?