Question for our next issue:

“Some of our guests spend so much time on the Internet, that others have a hard time getting a free telephone line to make a call. How are other innkeepers handling this problem?” Carol Blomquist, Chalet Lisl, Aspen, CO

Email your responses to InnkeeperNews@BedandBreakfast.com. If we publish your comments in the Innkeeper News, we'll thank you with a $25 credit in our Featured Properties Auction program!

We Asked:
Do you allow guests to bring pets? If so, how do you handle them?

Thanks to Bob & Karen Warner, who travel with their own dog, and welcome guests’ dogs at the Florida House Inn, Amelia Island, FL.

If you welcome pets at your B&B, make sure that pet lovers can find you when they search the BedandBreakfast.com database. Go to the Quick List Search, and from the dropdown box, select the “Pets Welcome” category. Then choose the search area, and make sure your property comes up. If it does not, log in to your home base with your property ID and password, then click “Policies” from the list on your left. If pets are welcome at your B&B, click the “yes” button.

You Replied:

We had a wonderful response to this question, and only wish we had space to include everyone’s answers. Here are some of the key points you made: No pets: Many inns do not welcome pets because they have had problems with guests with allergies, property damage, and/or conflict with their own pets. These innkeepers suggest that potential guests board their pets at a nearby recommended kennel.

Applewood Inn & Llama Trekking, Lexington, VA

1. Prior approval is essential, so that innkeepers can control the numbers of pets in residence, and can interview the owner to determine if the pet is a good traveler.


2. Dogs are most often the only pets welcomed; some innkeepers accept only small dogs.


3. Only one pet allowed per guestroom.


4. A maximum number of pets allowed at the inn at any one time (usually between one and three).


5. Pets must be leashed when out of the guest room.


6. Pets cannot be left alone in guest rooms, and must be with their owners at all times.


7. Pets must be washed & on flea medication prior to arrival, with proof of current rabies vaccinations.


8. Extra cleaning charges range from $10-25 daily.


9. Owners should bring pet bedding and dishes; no pets on the beds or furniture. Protective covers advisable, “just in case.” Loaner leashes, food, towels usually available on request.


10. Guests must sign a statement, agreeing to adhere to the inn’s policies, to be responsible for any damage done by the pet, and to absolve the innkeepers of any liability if the pet is injured.

“Applewood has welcomed dogs for the last five years, with few problems. We put them in a guest room that is separated from the other rooms and is easy to clean. Since we are in the countryside, guests are free to let their barker buddies roam anywhere outside of the one-acre fenced area around the inn. Usually, our two inn dogs personally take them in paw and show them around.” Linda & Chris Best, Applewood Inn & Llama Trekking,Lexington, VA

“We welcome small dogs (30lbs or less), and have a special ‘Pooch Policy’ we send once the reservation is made. Dogs are allowed in several of our ten cottages. Once the owner(s) signs agreement to our policy then their pet is warmly welcomed. We offer bowls for food and water, placed on a lovely placemat. We put a basket in their cottage containing towels for wet paws, plastic poop bags, treats, and a list of restaurants that allow dogs in their outdoor seating areas. We even provide a night-time snack! Although I love animals, I was skeptical at first, but now feel that as long as you set clear boundaries and expectations, the stay goes smoothly. We have been accepting dogs for two years, and this policy has resulted in repeat guests, who tell us how difficult it is to find quality pet-friendly accommodations. We have not yet had a bad experience; the dogs that have stayed with us were a joy.” Yvonne Lipscomb, Gingerbread Cottages B & B, Nice, CA

“Our 103-year-old home has a carriage house that has been renovated as a guest house. We allow well-behaved pets in the guest house and keep our main house pet free for those who are allergic. In the last four years, we have only had dogs as extra guests and they have all been very well behaved. We need to do a little extra cleaning to remove any fur from our upholstered furniture, but the guests are always so pleased that their pet is welcome, that we don’t mind. We don't charge extra for pets and so far, it hasn’t been necessary. Other guests are generally attracted to visiting pets, and it makes a good conversation opener. Children who have left their own pets at home enjoy having a friendly, furry friend to fill in for their missing buddy. We do not own a dog right now, just three barn cats to keep the place mice free. Our B&B is in the countryside, with lots of room for walks and running. We remember how much we missed our own dog when we went on a trip and so, as of now, pets are welcome.” Gerry Brinkers, Historic Old Stone House B&B, Ranchester, WY