Is Yellowstone Pet Friendly?

Surely you have a relative or neighbor or a teen in the neighborhood that could feed, walk and give some play time to your dog. Many folks hire babysitters and leave their children. Missing Yellowstone because of a dog?

Wow, it sounds like Yellowstone is a lot different than the Grand Canyon is but with good reasons. Then again I have been told that the GC is one of the most friendly pet parks in the system.
Our little mutt would not enjoy being cooped up in the motorhome all day long and it's a long trip for us there too.
Perhaps we will just cancel that trip.

I'll say it....your dogs can be a pain in the rear to others. I really don't want to be growled at when approaching you and your dog on a narrow trail. I don't want your dog yapping all day when your away from camp. I don't want to step in the excrement you leave behind. I don't dislake dogs. Owners are something else.

Check for a dog sitter in West Yellowstone.

A lot of campgrounds outside Yellowstone won't let you leave your dog unattended in your RV either. Ever stay next to one that barked all day when the owner's were away?

In addition, I've seen eagles near Yellowstone carry off small pets that were left outside.

I understand it's better to leave the dog behind, and for you it's pretty easy to do that. Put the dog in a kennel for a week, and make a quick run to Yellowstone.

Unfortunately, for me, it is not that easy. I can't leave my dog in a kennel for a month and 182. That's how long we will be away from home on our trip this year, which includes a week in Yellowstone.

We must leave our dog in the trailer. I also understand it limits the amount of time we can stay away during the day.

Army11Bravo wrote:
Do yourself a favor, don't take dogs into Yellowstone. If left at camp, they will be alone for most of the day. If brought in a vehicle to explore, they won't be allowed on the trails and will hinder your ability to see the attractions - even the easy roadside ones.

We camp in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks often and leave our dogs at home. It makes for a more pleasant experience. Like when we leave our teenagers at home!

Do yourself a favor, don't take dogs into Yellowstone. If left at camp, they will be alone for most of the day. If brought in a vehicle to explore, they won't be allowed on the trails and will hinder your ability to see the attractions - even the easy roadside ones.

We camp in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks often and leave our dogs at home. It makes for a more pleasant experience. Like when we leave our teenagers at home!

The Park Service manages more than just the "National Parks". Fort Caroline is part of an Ecological and Historic Preserve. There are different rules for preserves, historic sites, etc., than there are for national parks.

agesilaus wrote:
No national park, to my knowledge, is pet 'friendly'. They all follow the above rules.

Not true. Many National Parks allow pets on the trails and everywhere except in the buildings. Even found several visitor centers with water bowls and treats. Fort Caroline National Memorial in Jacksonville, FL is one example!

Yellowstone has rules for some very good reasons including the fact that you are in a wilderness area and the animals are wild and a cougar or bear might decide your “pet” looks mighty tasty.

Here’s another good reason. Back in July 1981, David Kirwan was driving through Yellowstone’s Fountain Paint Pot thermal area with his friend Ronald Ratliff and Ratliff’s dog Moosie. At about 1:00 P.M. they parked their truck to get out and take a closer look at the hot springs; Moosie escaped from the truck, ran towards nearby Celestine Pool (a thermal spring with a temperature at times of 200 degrees), jumped in, and began yelping.

Kirwan and Ratliff rushed over to the pool to aid the terrified dog, and Kirwan’s attitude indicated he was about to go into the spring after it. According to bystanders, several people tried to warn Kirwan off by yelling at him not to jump in, but he shouted “Like hell I won’t!” back at them, took two steps into the pool, and then dove head-first into the boiling spring.

Kirwan swam out to the dog and attempted to take it to shore; he then disappeared underwater, let go of the dog, and tried to climb out of the pool. Ratliff helped pull Kirwan out of the hot spring (resulting in second-degree burns to his own feet), and another visitor led Kirwan to the sidewalk as he reportedly muttered, “That was stupid. How bad am I? That was a stupid thing I did.”

Kirwan received 3rd degree burns over 100% of his body and died the next day. This is a true story and not an urban myth.

This is just one of the many ways people and animals can die in Yellowstone NP. It’s also one of the many reasons for the strict rules in Yellowstone. There is a book titled, Death in Yellowstone that is a great read before visiting the park.