Another dog related question

dadmomh wrote:
I actually have considered the "cat trick". But it's tough to conceal 2 Labs, and Border Collie and a Sheltie. With our luck, they'd give us a room where you had to walk through the lobby to get there.

I really don't object to a reasonable fee....whatever they want to call it - Cleaning Fee, Security Deposit, whatever. But if there is no damage caused by the dogs, I want to see that money back lickety split. And I don't want some cleaning person or even manager determining if there is a problem after we've left. But seeing those with the $100 Non Refundable Fee Per Pet really got on my last nerve. I looked for the site last night and couldn't find it, but it sure wasn't a 4-Star chain. For sure I'll be checking LaQuinta and Motel 6 in both Montgomery, AL and Lake City, FL. Makes me wonder why they don't charge a "child fee" or some others when you walk in and it looks like a tornado just came through. We've been known to go back to the office, get our money back and hope for something just down the road.

In your original post "many" properties were charging $100.00 per dog per night. Now you can't find any. The marketplace is really changing fast. Hint: One place charging $100 is many of the Residence Inns, but that is $100 per stay and Residence Inns market to weekly and longer executive stays. Spread that $100 over 7 or more days and it is a reasonable daily fee.
Like I posted before, children are covered by a damage fee, it is in the small print on your check in paperwork. And what properties do you stay in that the rooms look like a tornado passed thru due to children messing up the room? I have stayed conservatively in 1000+ hotel rooms and have never seen one that appeared to be destroyed by children. Have seen a few that were dirty and lacked maintenance, but they were all straightened up, surfaced cleaned, beds made, debris from previous guests removed.
Pets do create more clean up in a room. 95% of dogs and cats shed, and that requires additional vacuuming. Pets (especially cats and small dogs) are prone to getting on the chairs and bedspreads. To clean those, you have to use pet hair rollers which is a very time consuming process. Dogs also smell, and that requires additional ventilation and deodorization. I have no problem with pet fees and I travel extensively with a large dog.
One more thing, the "cat trick" is stealing. If you don't like the price of something you don't just take it. If you don't like paying $150 for a ticket to an NFL football game, you don't run past the ticket taker. If you think $15 a pound is too much for King Crab legs, you don't stuff them down your pants and walk out of the store. (well you do if you are a Heisman Trophy winner, but I am betting you are not) What you do is make your displeasure known by voting with your wallet and going someplace else.