Woof! Woof! Are we there yet?
The autumn joy of pet-friendly road trips
By Lorie Steiner
Travelling in the fall with your BFF (Best Furry Friend) is always a joy. Well, maybe not always… sometimes… occasionally… as long as you’re going where they want to go. Some place with interesting aromas and flavours – not so much into the fall colours but the chance to romp and roll in the leaves at any given point is ever-appreciated. Canine antics are to be expected on a road trip. It starts when you lift the leash off the hook at the door and say, “Want to go for a car ride?” Ears go up, tail goes everywhere and that silly toothy grin is just so contagious. Smiles all around.
Fitting an adorable small pooch into the rear seat isn’t usually troublesome. A soft, little bed or blanket between the two passengers and voila! Mission accomplished. Maybe he/she is even riding solo back there. Lucky dog. But try to place a 60 to 70 pound golden retriever in the same spot and have fun. They usually want the window seat so they can hang their head out the window and navigate by nose. Again, if they’re the single passenger, all is well. Anyone else is liable to get trampled and sat upon for much of the journey.
Where to sleep?
Hopefully, if you’re going for more than a day trip, you’ve planned ahead and found the perfect, pet-friendly accommodations. An overnight snooze en masse in your vehicle isn’t all that comfortable – unless you’re travelling via RV, in which case, hey, there are tons of campgrounds that welcome families with pets. Wherever you intend to stay, it’s wise to phone or email ahead and make reservations to avoid surprises.
Smell that air
Adventures in cottage country are always a fave of the four-legged tourist. It’s uncanny how they know when you’re within a few miles of the water… you hear the heavy breathing, the mild yipping and whining, then the hind quarters start to shimmy and shake. “Are we there yet? Are we, are we?” Must be the unmistakable scent of pine and cedar and day-old fish bait, but that pooch puts a whole new emphasis on antsy.
Regardless of whether you’re heading north to close the cottage, or on a daytrip or weekend escape to enjoy leaf peeping and the harvest bounty that make Ontario the best place to live, your canine companion will love to tag along. Destination Ontario is the ultimate resource for pet-friendly travelling in the province and across Canada. Visit destinationontario.com/en-ca/travel-resources/travel-pets for the latest scoop on where to go, what to do and how to get there.
That being said, if it just isn’t possible for your buddy to join in, it’s probably best to explore options for a pet-focused getaway of their own.
“Muskoka’s retreat for the furry elite”
Happy Tails Pet Resort & Camp is one of the best retreats going. Lisa Brooks founded this Muskoka wonderland for dogs (and sometimes cats) in 1996 and the testimonials – from pets and people alike – are proof positive that it’s a winner. Each and every ‘guest’ is treated with love and respect and the fun never ends. They even have a Cottage & City Shuttle that takes pets to and from home in the GTA and cottage country. With beautiful fully fenced parkland and lakes set on acreage galore, what’s not to love if you’ve got four legs and a hankering to run, play, and swim? It’s a true Muskoka Getaway celebrated with a classic cottage dog lifestyle! happytailsmuskoka.com
Safety first
If you’re planning on hitting the road for a fall getaway, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society wants you to plan ahead to keep your furry friends safe and comfortable.
Here are 6 tips for a happy drive:
- Run errands and pick up supplies before you load up and leave home.
- Plan your route with pet-friendly stops along the way.
- Travel with someone who can stay in the car with your animal if you need to stop.
- Stop at drive-throughs or pack your meals to ensure your animal isn’t left unattended at mealtimes.
- If you’re taking breaks along the way, remember that hot asphalt can burn your pet’s pads – even on a sunny day in October, the pavement can be pretty toasty. Find a cool place in the shade for them to stretch their legs, eat, drink and relieve themselves.
- Parked vehicles can quickly reach deadly temperatures, even on relatively mild days with the car parked in the shade and the windows open. If you can’t take your animal with you, the Ontario SPCA urges you to leave them at home where they are safe.
You can also save a life when you report animals left unattended in vehicles by calling the Province of Ontario’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services at 1-833-9Animal, or your local police. The Ontario SPCA is not who to call if you see an animal in a car. If you see an animal in immediate danger, call 911. ontariospca.ca/blog/pet-travel-safety-tips
*Please consider donating to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society – “Ontario’s animal charity since 1873.”
DID YOU KNOW?
If you plan to have a staycation in the city, dogs are welcome on all Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) trains, buses and streetcars during weekends and off-peak hours. Forget the pub crawl, go for a park crawl among Toronto’s fantastic dog parks. Meet some friends, get some exercise… you might enjoy it too!
*HORIZON is grateful to Ron Schmidt for the use of his fun-loving photo. Discover more on Instagram @ron.schmidt.photo and ronschmidt.art
