Taking the Dog on Holiday Without Telling the Caravan Site… Am I Mad?!

[oceanmountain]

So I’m going away in a couple of weeks and had a dog sitter all sorted… and now they’ve just cancelled because of a family emergency.

I’ve tried everywhere and can’t find anyone else to take the dog on such short notice, and I really don’t want to cancel the trip and upset the kids. So I was thinking of just taking the dog with me and not telling the caravan site.

Has anyone ever done this? My dog’s tiny and doesn’t shed, so I honestly don’t know how they’d even notice.

My friend said I shouldn't do it but I cant see any other option?

I hate people who do this sort of selfish shit
My family have a cottage that we rent out - and it is very clearly stated to be pet free. This is for two reasons - one is that family members with allergy problems use the cottage and its important to keep it in a suitable condition for them (and the other people who book it because it is pet free).
The other is that the cottage is situated in a working sheep farm, and out of consideration for the sheep and our farming neighbour, we have a blanket rule of no unvetted dogs on the property, as we cannot know their behaviour or the owners ability to manage their behaviour. The no dog rule is clearly stated on all advertising material and in all arrangement and confirmation emails.

But it still doesn't stop selfish dicks like the OP turning up with their dog and some lame excuses anyway, trying to argue that its somehow special and different, or bulldoze over objections or trying to smuggle a dog in. We have turned people away from planned stays for breaking this rule- its a non negotiable rule for very good reasons.

I am shocked at the (thankfully few) posters who admit to doing this or say they would.
While you might have 'got away with it's whose to say you didn't ruin the holiday of the people staying there after you? Maybe they ended up ill and having to leave because of your selfishness.

Goodness no, be upfront and offer to pay for deep cleaning. If the campsite still say no and offer no alternative, book your dog into kennels. Unless the dog is elderly / sick, there is a first time for everything.

It doesn’t matter how much you clean the allergens are still there and will affect other people with allergies to dogs who rent the caravan after you ! You are being very selfish

Someone staying in the caravan after will care if they have severe allergies. If the dog damages something in the caravan, someone will care.

I am a dog lover, and I used to take my dog on holiday, into cafes etc, but I was no so entitled that I would just ignore rules about places that do not allow dogs.
Keep dog free spaces dog free.

There's a other thread about people who are allergic to dogs and makes them ill, even if hotel room cleaned.

I have bad asthma and once stayed in a “no dogs allowed” holiday chalet where some previous guests had snuck in a dog. I ended up in hospital. Wasn’t a great holiday!!

It's sadly part and parcel of owning a dog.
Sometimes your plans have to change because of them and you can end up out of pocket.

It would be outrageous of you to sneak him in.

Your friend is right, taking a dog would be hugely inconsiderate and selfish. Can’t you book your dog into a kennel?

erm no - dog owners pay a premium because of cleaning - i know because i do! You cannot just take a dog

people have severe allergies even though they "don't shed" etc

OP, you have asked for advice and shut down every response telling you that YABU. You are clearly going to take the dog so why did you ask?

You risk getting kicked off the site , losing any deposit you may have paid , spending your time trying to hide your dog - but the worst thing is you could ruin someone else’s holiday. You check out at say 10, someone else could be checking in at 2 who has an allergy. Do you think they won’t be affected ? Do you realise that some pet allergies affect asthma? My son had an allergy to dogs when he was younger - if we visited a house that had pets within 5 minutes his face would be bright red, his eyes watering and his breathing affected .

There is obviously a reason why they have vans that do not allow pets on a pet friendly site.

so you could ruin someone else’s holiday and actually put them at risk because you don’t want to put your dog in kennels. You are clearly going to do it, but I actually do hope they catch you early on so that they can deep clean the van before the next guests arrive.

Please don’t be another be another entitled dog owner. It really isn’t fair on those with allergies.

I’m sure they’d accept the dog. You could always offer to pay extra if they aren’t keen.
Ive never seen a campsite who doesn’t accept dogs!!

No, you don’t take your dog with you to a non dog friendly caravan - if the people that are in it after you have dog allergies then they’re fucked. Whether it sheds or not is besides the point because people have allergies to dander and saliva, not just hair. Next time, book a dog friendly one just in case. This time, put the dog in kennels - it’s irrelevant whether it’s been in kennels or not before, unless it’s poorly behaved or unvaccinated. Perhaps it’s both.

It is the accommodation OP booked that does not allow dogs, not the site.
You are also not allowed to leave dogs unattended in accommodation either, which OP is planning to do.

Basically ur taking the dog no matter what so pointless asking

If she's tiny then just take her with you. Can you put a cage in your boot? She will have to spend time in the car but if you take her out lots you should be OK on this occassion as its an emergency. Thankfully it'll be cold too.

Prioritise finding another dog sitter. Ask on your local forum on facebook and try Rover.

There are people with asthma who react severely to dogs who book dog free accommodation and could be seriously ill because they thought they were booking somewhere safe.

You have obviously decided you are taking the dog. You have said you are going to clean before you leave - are you taking a steam cleaner with you.

They have non pet caravans for a reason - I assume that you would also happily open a packet of peanuts on a flight that specifically says please do not have nuts due to allergies.

Of course it sheds - the idea that any animal dies with exactly the same skin/hair/fur it was born with is utterly ridiculous

If it's a big site like Haven then dog friendly caravans are dotted all over the park so I doubt anyone would notice you shouldn't have one in the caravan. I stayed at Haven in May last year, booked a dog friendly caravan because I have 2 dogs and the actual van we were allocated had a sticker on the fridge saying this is a non-dog friendly caravan. So they probably do release a few caravans if they have over booked to dog owners. A small non shedding dog is unlikely to leave much smell, is probably a lot cleaner than most children and if it doesnt bark when you go out to entertainments wont be drawing attention to you.

The OP is hiring a caravan on the campsite.
Some caravans there are dog-friendly and some are dog-free.
She wants to sneak the dog into designated dog-free accommodation.

Please do not do this! Dogs smell however small and no hair shredding. The next guests could be allergic and there will definitely be doggy whiff smell.

Sorry, but that is cruel. Keep the dog in the boot? Madness.