pet fees?

Lol well my thread got some got some good replys and some that I disagree with. First I have to admit the driving force in me camping is so I can travel with my wife, 2 boys, and 3 dogs comfortably. I certainly don't want my boys or dogs to bother anyone. Having said that if kids and pets bother some people so much I don't see how they have any fun at all. Campgrounds I've been to are full of kids and pets. They both make messes. anyways thanks for the thoughtful posts. To the people that don't care for pets... If I'm beside you I guess we will tolerate each other.

While I don't like pet fees I have no problem paying them. A $3-$5 fee is not going to break my budget. Leaving the dog behind will cost me more than $5.00 per day.
Despite the denial crowd that believe their dog doesn't cause the campground any extra. I understand dogs in a CG create all kinds of issues from barking,to leashes and then there is the clean up. In the end pets are another thing for CG operators to deal with.
I prefer to pay vs. having the CG ban dogs and avoid all the headaches.
With all the controversy surrounding pet fees a wise CG owner would just up their rates to everyone and avoid the "A la cart" pricing. On the other hand pet fees are sometimes used to discourage/weed out some pet owners and reduce the number of dogs in the CG.
Pet fees I can live with now breed restrictions.........that something to rant about ..LOL

A $100 per pet would be fair. More if the owner can't control their pet. Even more if the pet is smarter than the owner........

DSDP Don wrote:
The good pet owners suffer because of the bad owners. If everyone followed the rules, there probably wouldn't be pet fees or constant complaints about dogs.

Responsible pet owners.....keep up the good work, maybe you'll have an impact on the bad ones.

Best line in this entire thread. I've been to parks that charge pet fees. If the park is worth the cost, I don't have a problem. If the park isn't worth the cost, I keep driving.

I have 3 little Min Pins. They are barkers. They are only outside the camper on leashed walks or on leads when the wife and I are at the immediate campsite. Unless you are cutting through my yard, they likely won't bark excessively. I know that some people think ANY noise from a dog is too much... sorry. I love my dogs and enjoy their company when we travel. That is a big reason we started camping for vacations... so we can bring our pups.

I have had pet fees before, but I got them back if there were no complaints with my dogs...

Always a feisty debate about dogs. For 55 years I've had a dog(s). For 8 years I had two labs, one pet and one Arson dog. We loved our pets, but never took them camping. Just too much work and mess. Now that we're retired, we've elected to be pet free and enjoy our travels without having to worry about what to do with the dog when exploring. Many older pet owners with limited mobility, have pets for companionship and I understand that and don't have an issue with it.

I'm glad to see so many people on here with pets are willing to pay the fee and don't quibble about it. These are the respectful owners. Not only is the fee for maintaining the park, insurance and issues that always arise with dogs, but they're often telling you, don't bring your dogs.

It would be fun to see a study on how many really pick up after their dog (percentages). Do they always pick up as many state on here, or only when someone is watching. Too many ruin it for others.

Personally, I would rather go to a park without pets. Not everyone is as responsible with their pets as you are led to believe on the forums. Here are my issues with pet owners:

-My dog never barks, when he does I yell at him....great, right after the dog barks you hear the owner yell.

-I always pick up after my dog, except when I forget to bring a bag or no one is looking.

-Owner allows their dog close enough to sniff everyone's leg/foot. I don't mine and will usually pet the dog, but it's not a good thing for small children/grandchildren. Great your dog is nice, but don't force everyone else too have to share your love for your dog.

-"No Dogs on Trails"....big sign, yet many dog owners are above the law/rules and here they come with their pet.

-Lastly, Service Dogs.....I'm lonely or can't deal with stress so mine is a Service Dog", no credentials or paperwork....and they drag them into food stores and place them in shopping carts.

The good pet owners suffer because of the bad owners. If everyone followed the rules, there probably wouldn't be pet fees or constant complaints about dogs.

Responsible pet owners.....keep up the good work, maybe you'll have an impact on the bad ones.

willald wrote:

kcmoedoe wrote:

traveylin wrote:
Soooo, does this mean if a pet fee is charged, I do not have to pick up the poop???

Yep. And if enough people follow your lead, soon the pet fee will be gone.....along with the park's policy of allowing pets.

..Thats what Perriwinkle Campground in Sanibel Island, FL does. They have a rule, NO DOGS ALLOWED, period. That rule pretty much eliminates the issue, and makes for a much more quiet, cleaner, and more pleasant experience for campers. :)

I just made reservations for there (Perriwinkle), we're going to be down there for a whole week this spring. Really looking forward to a whole week of not having to hear everyone else's dogs barking, or seeing dog poop laying around.

Will

I'm with you all the way on that one.
I would pick a rv park with a no pet law any day over one that allows them.
We love dogs, but not in camp grounds and rv parks where every one is close together, over the years we have been barked at too many times and had too many unpleasant experiences with people allowing their dog to do it's business on our site while we are sitting there with the attitude that it is perfectly OK to do that.

Jack L

Dog Folks wrote:

willald wrote:

kcmoedoe wrote:

traveylin wrote:
Soooo, does this mean if a pet fee is charged, I do not have to pick up the poop???

Yep. And if enough people follow your lead, soon the pet fee will be gone.....along with the park's policy of allowing pets.

..Thats what Perriwinkle Campground in Sanibel Island, FL does. They have a rule, NO DOGS ALLOWED, period. That rule pretty much eliminates the issue, and makes for a much more quiet, cleaner, and more pleasant experience for campers. :)

I just made reservations for there (Perriwinkle), we're going to be down there for a whole week this spring. Really looking forward to a whole week of not having to hear everyone else's dogs barking, or seeing dog poop laying around.

Will

I truly hope you enjoy dog free. You certainly are paying the price for that privilege. It is your right to enjoy so again I hope you do.

Make sure your visit the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge right there on the island. It is outstanding, and you can drive through, if you wish.

Don't forget: there is an extra person fee of $5.00 per day at the campground. Every time you leave the island, it will cost you $6.00 to cross the bridge and get back to the campground.

..Camping at Sanibel Island, you are paying the price for being on the island, NOT for not having to deal with dogs (thats just an added benefit, haha).

Perriwinkle is only campground on that island, so if you want to camp on that island (and we do), you're going to pay Perriwinkle's price. Period. Doesn't matter whether or not you mind dogs being there, yo're still going to pay it.

Yes, I'm aware of Perriwinkle's fee for extra people, and the $6 fee to take the causeway across. Dogs or no dogs, I still would chose the same place. :)

Thanks for the tip, about J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. We'll have to check that out.

Will

It's my opinion that those places that do not charge separately for pets likely have just added a dollar or two to EVERYONE's Rates.

I'm too proud to expect others to pay my way, so don't mind paying for my dog. Same goes for any extra people/vehicles...whatever.

FunnyCamper wrote:

wbwood wrote:
On the other hand, I don't care too much for those who bring numerous dogs and set up fences and etc outside.

those fences are a joke if your dog doesn't way more than, say, 8 lbs :) :)

at a cg they had 2 big labs in a knee high gold fencing around their concrete site area. Dogs towered over it :B Obviously these were good dogs, but it ONLY TAKES one instant when that muttley decides to not be a good dog and over/thru that little baby barrier it goes.

Mst of the time, it is the little yappers that way 8lbs or less and they are usually the noisiest.