By Susan Bard Hall
Editor’s note: Many inns have resident pets; many innkeepers also believe that the presence of pets gives them a marketing edge. But new innkeepers should approach the issue of allowing their animals to mingle with guests cautiously and check with authorities regarding local regulations. Some laws and licensing agencies prohibit animals in public areas. Also check with your insurance carrier regarding any potential liability due to the presence of pets. A cat-lover, Susan Bard Hall is a Chicago-based freelance writer and the author of Purr-Fect Places to Stay: Bed & Breakfasts, Country Inns, and Hotels with Resident Cats (1999, Letters Etcetera).
Innkeepers believe that resident cats and resident dogs may make their jobs slightly more difficult but the rewards for both guests and themselves are well worth the extra effort.
“Our resident cats give our home more of a welcoming atmosphere,” observes Cathy Russell, innkeeper, White Swan Inn Bed & Breakfast, Whitehall, MI. “It’s especially appealing when guests have been traveling for a week or two and really miss their pets.”
When one partner is a pet lover and the other isn’t, staying at a property with a resident pet means the chance to spend quality time with a furry friend and get the cat or dog fix that’s unavailable at home, Russell said. Empty-nesters and/or those who travel extensively also enjoy resident pets because they may not feel they can devote the full-time attention and affection that a pet of their own deserves, yet they still have lots of love to offer, if only when they travel.
While inns might lose some business because of their resident cat/dog, resident pets have indeed attracted more than their fair share of new and repeat business, according to Lyn Hainstock, proprietor/host of Penny Farthing Inn, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Innkeepers believe that resident cats and resident dogs may make their jobs slightly more difficult but the rewards for both guests and themselves are well worth the extra effort.
“Our resident cats give our home more of a welcoming atmosphere,” observes Cathy Russell, innkeeper, White Swan Inn Bed & Breakfast, Whitehall, MI. “It’s especially appealing when guests have been traveling for a week or two and really miss their pets.”
When one partner is a pet lover and the other isn’t, staying at a property with a resident pet means the chance to spend quality time with a furry friend and get the cat or dog fix that’s unavailable at home, Russell said. Empty-nesters and/or those who travel extensively also enjoy resident pets because they may not feel they can devote the full-time attention and affection that a pet of their own deserves, yet they still have lots of love to offer, if only when they travel.
While inns might lose some business because of their resident cat/dog, resident pets have indeed attracted more than their fair share of new and repeat business, according to Lyn Hainstock, proprietor/host of Penny Farthing Inn, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
