Being Pet Friendly Could Be The Key To Increased Occupancy

I spoke to a number of renters today looking for last minute availability for the summer. One of them wanted three full weeks in August. I know of plenty of cottages that have weeks empty but none of them are pet friendly, so had to turn away all the potential clients as they all had pets they wanted to bring.  I look at our availability calendars and just about all the pet friendly properties are fully booked, mine included.

We have always allowed dogs in our cottage and without exception have had trouble free stays. I find pet owners (in general) to be the most responsible and thoughtful renters. They are usually so grateful that Fido is welcomed, they respond by leaving the place in excellent condition, and it is rare to find any evidence a pet has accompanied them. Craig at CottageLINK pointed me at a listing he has on his site which includes this quote:

A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town he planned to visit on his vacation.

He wrote: I would very much like to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed and very well behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night?"

An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who wrote:

"I've been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I've never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls. I've never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I've never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel. And, if your dog will vouch for you, you're welcome to stay here, too."

— author unknown —

I echo the sentiments above.

If you are concerned about a lack of bookings you might wish to consider giving your pet policy another thought.