Dog bites a strangers pants. Stranger demands money for cleaning fee.

Dear Ollie,

My owners are very angry with me. I am staying out of their sight and bouncing around the house only when called. If I throw my head up in the air and catch a whiff of something delicious cooking in the kitchen, then l make an appearance. I guess that I’m just plain lucky to still have a dinner bowl.

Last month, my entire family traveled to California to visit my owner’s daughter who resides in Napa Valley. When my humans planned the trip, they telephoned every hotel, to ask if they were pet friendly. So we stayed at an Embassy Suites that assured my family it was pet friendly.

Here’s what happened to us. We were all in a lovely room on the first floor away from the lagoon and the ducks and geese but near to a stairwell door. I was returning from a walk when my owner turned me loose to run to our door and greet their daughter. I was jazzed by the freedom but very alarmed when I heard noise, and a huge banging as the stairwell door opened and two men came barreling into the small vestibule.  I turned, I lunged and I bit. Well, I didn’t actually bite him in the flesh but there was worsted wool flying in the wind. He wasn’t hurt but he demanded $250 to pay for his pants. Personally, I have tasted better wool and I think he was lying about the cost. If that weren’t bad enough, when we checked out of the hotel we were charged a $150 cleaning fee for me. . What an insult to a dog that is perfectly house trained. Now you know why my owners are angry with me. It cost them an additional $400 in vacation money. How do I get back in their good graces?

Lloyd

Adopted from the Northwest Indiana Humane Society

 

 

Dear Lloyd,

Yes, you are lucky to still have a dog dish. But, having said this, just because a hotel or motel advertises that they are “pet friendly” does not mean you are welcome to chase geese and other water fowl. Your owners must ask the right questions. Such as, “Are there special rooms for pets and/or do you add an additional “cleaning or damage charge” added to my room bill if I bring a pet on property?” The term “pet friendly” means different things to different hotels or motels. For instance, the Kimpton Hotels do not charge extra for pets. In fact, each pet is given a goody bag at registration and a welcome letter from their director of pet relations, who happens to be a dog too. The Westin Hotels charge guests with dogs a refundable deposit against damage etc. It is important for your pet owners to do this type of research before planning another holiday because every property is different.

Regarding the flying worsted wool incident, you should not have been unleashed because clearly, you can’t mind your own business. Dogs jump if they are excited, overstimulated, or think there is was danger.  Chalk that one up to a lesson for your owners. Dogs around people need to be leashed. Have patience Lloyd, your owners will get over their shock of losing a perfectly good $400 and you will be welcome back into the family.

Remember, Rescuing one pet can’t change the world…but the world will change for that one pet