Mt. Rushmore

Thanks to everyone..it has been an interesting discussion for sure! Typically we spend a lot of time visiting National Mounuments, Parks and do a fair amount of hiking and exploring. This side trip to Mt. Rushmore via Custer SP was a spur of the moment idea. It is only a 3-4 hr drive from Douglas which is where our motorhome will be as it is enroute between several places that we will be visiting over a 2 1/2 month trip. We thought it might be fun to get in the car and just do a marathon road trip. Then back to our planned route on through Colorado, NM and AZ. Our dog could stay at a vet in Douglas but since we are headed out JUST FOR THE DAY...it would be nice to include him in the trip. So, thank you all for your input. We will consider it all.

We always leave our dog at a kennel or veterinarian for day care or boarding, picking him up in the late afternoon after a day of sightseeing and meals out. We check out the facilities online and make reservations. I am hesitant to leave our dog in the camper for more than 2 hours maximum, so we mostly day board when we are sightseeing or biking more than 2 hours. This has worked for us for many years. There are usually facilities near national parks or monuments. Worked great this past spring when we were at Scottsbluff NE and Cheyenne WY. And the dog is no worse for wear - he's met some nice people at these places. Good luck!

Rita and her sheltie, Andy

It's sort of a double-edged sword: if you're in a nice shaded area and leave your windows sufficiently open for a nice breeze - the dog(s) should be fine. However, now your car is not really secure (unless you have a true guardian-type dog) because a quick-moving thief can open the door, let your dog out - and help themselves to the contents.

We prefer to lock the closed car and bring the dogs with us - which sometimes means one of us is standing around in the parking lot while the other sees a sight.

Even in the parking garage, S.D. is too hot to leave a fur baby in the car. We took ours up and just had to take turns seeing the inside interests.

It's the price you pay having a pet, but they're comfortable and alive.

Thanks Uppercrust!

They do have shade in the parking garage if you can get a space in there.

EVERY year MANY dogs die a horrific death from being left in cars. Even well-meaning people thinking they are doing good by taking their dogs along everywhere they go.

I can't imagine how NPS would even tell people they could park with their dogs left in their cars.

brewjaz.....I KNOW! I was so shocked to see this on the NPS website which was why I was looking for information from people who had actually been there and seen the parking structure.

No way would I chance letting my dog in the car in the heat. Here's a chart (sorry, I don't know how to make a link show up) as to what the outside temp. turns to inside a car:



http://www.mchumane.org/documents/HEAT_ALERT.pdf