Traveling w/dog & your hospitalization

[Mountain_Mama]

When my DH had a stroke on a trip in 2007 on Thanksgiving weekend, we did not have the RV with us but did have our two labs with us. He ended up in hospital and I had to find someone to care for the dogs. We were in strange town after dark on holiday weekend. How would you have handled this?

[sher9570]

doxiemom11 wrote:
This happened to a single full-timer here in the park this winter. The owner of the park took her to the hospital and his staff and we the camper all cared for her dog. There are many, many dog lovers in a rv park and there would always be someone/ or many someones to care for a pet.

You said you didn't have an rv at that time, which makes it sound like you do now. I sure wouldn't worry about it. There is always an rv'er who will help. At least that has been our experience in the 4 years full-time.

Your right, have seen it time and time again and you will find so many RVer's to help out...we've done it ourselves.
But always try too to get a number of a relative or next of kin just in case something unforeseen happens.

Sher

[Pawz4me]

In an RV it wouldn't be nearly such a problem. As others have said, probably someone (or many someones) in the campground would be willing to help. Or you could find a pet sitter to come a few times a day.

Without an RV, and on a holiday weekend (as in your original scenario) I'm sure it would be much harder. Without knowing the exact circumstances I can't say what we would have done, but some possibilities --

Since you said it was on Thanksgiving, I assume the weather was reasonably cool. I might have left the dogs in the car to begin with, alerting any hospital security patrol about what was going on.

Finding a hotel that allows dogs isn't usually much of a problem nowadays, except I believe some of them don't want the dogs to be left in the room alone. Depending on how well behaved the dogs were, and how close you could find a hotel, that would probably have been my first choice (assuming I could find a hotel that would allow the dogs to be alone).

Next I'd have worked the phone to find a boarding kennel or vet with boarding facilities to keep them for a few days. I doubt you'd have much luck getting into contact with a rescue group on short notice on a holiday weekend, so I would have probably tried to get some info from the police, an emergency vet or the local municipal animal shelter.

Some Petsmarts have boarding facilities so that would be something I would have checked on, too.

[Scottiemom]

In our park in the winter, there are many people who would take in a doggie temporarily. We are all dog lovers.

This past winter we had a single man, 63 years old, who died suddenly one night. Some friends found him the next morning and his little Yorkie was just barking up a storm. They took Katie out of the RV and I held her for quite some time while the EMT's were there. The one EMT asked me what would happen to Katie as she was a dog lover and was concerned about her. I said I didn't know. But she needn't worry as there were many people in the park who would take her in. As it was, he didn't have family that could take her, but the summer before he had to be hospitalized and there was a couple who took her in while he was gone. They had told him they would take her if he every needed someone. When his friend came to get his car and belongings, he and his wife took Katie and she was reunited with the couple who loved her dearly.

Another time my DH was taken to the ER once from a campground in Tucson. We had Neal, our handicapped Scottie. I made arrangements with a neighbor to let him out if I wasn't home by a certain time. I left a key hidden outside.

Dale

[rockhillmanor]

I have an ICE posted on my visor, in my wallet and on my fridge in the RV. All emergency rescue personnel and the police know what this is and actually will look for it.

In Case of Emergency.

It is a printed out sheet with ICE boldy printed on top and all the info needed for who to call to take my pets if I am hospitalized or in an accident. And to speak on my behalf in a medical situation where I can not do so.

These chosen people have all the info needed to take care of my animals, and me. And will fly drive or crawl to where ever I am in my RV to get to us and assist.

If you don't have this all your animals will end up in the local county shelter. Which most County shelters ARE kill shelters. You end up hospitalized incapacitated for longer than their holding days and sadly you will loose your pets.

It's a "good thing" to have posted if you RV. :C

[DownTheAvenue]

The premium service with Home Again micro chips has 24/7/365 referrals just for this type of emergency.

[doxiemom11]

This happened to a single full-timer here in the park this winter. The owner of the park took her to the hospital and his staff and we the camper all cared for her dog. There are many, many dog lovers in a rv park and there would always be someone/ or many someones to care for a pet.

You said you didn't have an rv at that time, which makes it sound like you do now. I sure wouldn't worry about it. There is always an rv'er who will help. At least that has been our experience in the 4 years full-time.

[robsouth]

I would think that someone at the hospital could have pointed you in the right direction. They deal with all sorts of "emergencies", both for the patient and the family.

[brewjaz]

THANK YOU--I am so glad you asked this question....I would have never thought about it until an emergency.

I would go with what others said about asking a local rescue group or police for help/contacts.

As far as what westernrvparkowner said about leaving the dogs in your car and checking on them every half hour--only do that if it's cooler out (under 65 deg. or so). A dog can die of a heat stroke VERY quickly (and horribly) in a very short time at temperatures over 68 deg.

[westernrvparkow]

Rent a hotel room that allows dogs and stay there. Leave the dogs in the car and check on them every half hour if you are at the emergency room. Ask for a copy of the Yellow Pages and find a kennel. Call an emergency vet clinic and ask for help. Contact the police and ask for assistance finding a kennel. You have to be creative and flexible, but something will always work out. It really isn't something you can prepare for.

[Big_Katuna]

I would try to find a rescue group for the breed and ask for help. They have foster homes that probably could take them. You would offer to pay of course.

[nineoaks2004]

gbopp wrote:
I would have contacted the local police or sheriff. They may have a canine unit, a handler could have contacts for dog boarding.
Or contact a humane society, maybe they will know of a kennel.
What did you do?

X2 The local law enforcement agency usually has a finger on who is who in a small town anyway.

[Mountain_Mama]

darsben wrote:
LET IT GO NOW that was 8 years ago. Forget about it

I'm trying to find the best way to handle in case I'm in the same situation in the future!!

[darsben]

LET IT GO NOW that was 8 years ago. Forget about it

[gbopp]

I would have contacted the local police or sheriff. They may have a canine unit, a handler could have contacts for dog boarding.
Or contact a humane society, maybe they will know of a kennel.
What did you do?