Debbie and Sherry traveling with Bailey and Liebe (left to right)

We at A and W Mountain Rentals in Banner Elk NC know how wonderful it can be to take your four-footed family members along with you when you vacation. That is why we offer a number of North Carolina pet friendly cabins and vacation rentals that permit a small, well-behaved dog to be a member of your group.

To find a pet friendly rental just click on "Search by Amenities" and check the box for Pets. This will bring up a list of all the current pet-friendly properties. Approximately half of our rentals will allow a small dog and several of these will consider a medium size dog. Debbie, the Broker-In-Charge of A and W Mountain Rentals, never leaves her Shih Tzu, Bailey, at home. Her sister, Sherrie, could not bear to leave her lab, Liebe, behind either. We are so attached to our dogs that we even bring them with us to our office. In our travels, we have learned quite a bit about the etiquette of traveling with dogs. In addition to our personal experience, we found a number of excellent hints when we did an Internet search of "traveling with pets." We have added this North Carolina Pet Friendly Cabin page to our website because we feel that with a little care and preparation, your trip with Fido can be rewarding for you both.

The preparation begins before you leave home. Planning ahead is essential to any successful vacation, especially when traveling with a dog:

• Visit a vet before your vacation. A few weeks before you are scheduled to leave, make sure you get a clean bill of health for your dog. Make sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date and that you have proof of vaccination to take with you on your trip. If you are unsure whether your pet is up for the trip, you should check with your vet. You can also ask your vet if any medical aids would make the trip easier for FIDO.
• Parasites: It is important when traveling here in North Carolina that your dog be protected from fleas and ticks. So, the first step when getting ready for your trip is to be sure your dog is being treated with Frontline or K-9 Advantix, NOT ADVANTAGE. The product, Advantage, only protects from fleas, and it is the ticks that are a much more dangerous threat...not only here but in the south as well. The product K-9 Advantix states that it protects your pet from fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. All dogs would be at risk of parasites, since they all have to go outside to do their business.
• Fido's suitcase: The next thing is to pack Fido's doggie suitcase. Be sure to bring some of his/her favorite toys, dog treats, a water bowl, plenty of water for the trip (we read that diluting the local water with water from home can help prevent diarrhea), a food dish, the dog's normal food (of course), any medications you might need for Fido, dog leashes (Debbie just bought a 15-foot leash at Wal-Mart that she plans on using on her next trip), doggie clean-up bags, crates, bedspread (quilt, sheets or a blanket) from home, dog tags (rabies and name tag stating address and phone numbers), colored photo and complete description in case FIDO is lost).
• Kennel comfort: Many humane societies recommend that pets in cars/trucks be crated. If your pet requires travel in a kennel, train them before you make the trip. Make sure it's large enough for the dog to stand, turn around and be comfortable. Purchase this ahead of time. We have read that you should let your pet eat and sleep there before you leave, as well as throw in an old sock (worn by you) so he will become accustomed to the kennel in time for travel. It has also been recommended that a strong mesh crate (the bottom lined with towels) with plenty of food and water be used.
• Grooming: Debbie always takes Bailey to the dog groomers right before she leaves. (He goes to The Impeccable Pooch, Inc. right here in Banner Elk). If you don't go to the groomers, be sure and bathe your dog right before leaving.
• Exercise your dog before you leave. A tired pet will sleep more easily and adapt more readily to new surroundings.

• Many travelers solve this problem by bringing the dog's crate so their pet can have the comfort and security of a familiar space around them. This is the only time that it would be appropriate to leave the dog alone in the rental unit.
• Be careful of the temperature in the car if you take your dog with you when you leave. Pets should not be left in closed cars in hot weather. Even with windows partly opened, heat builds up quickly and can cause extreme distress, suffocation and death.
• This is not a recommendation; it is more of a confession. Debbie worries so much about Bailey when traveling by car. If it is hot and she has to go to the rest room or into a store, etc, she leaves the car running and the air conditioner on. She carries an extra key in her pocket so that she can lock the doors. If you do this, be sure and check back often. I have never had a problem, but that doesn't mean that I couldn't.
• We have read that, as a general rule, it is a recommendation that if you leave your car your pet should leave as well. If you park, make sure it's in a shaded area to keep the car cool.
• Picnics, instead of eating out, are especially wonderful if you are traveling with your pet. Be sure to keep your dog on a leash, but this makes a wonderful opportunity for you to exercise your dog. This area has many great places for picnics and hiking, and your dog is welcome at many of them.

Some dogs are well trained to stay off the furniture at home; however, when they are out of their comfort zone, they do things they would not do at home. In our units, we ask that you please use the extra sheets we provide to cover the sofas or beds so that (if your canine buddy gets up there) the furniture will be protected from shedding hair or dirty paws. Debbie's little Shih Tzu is not well trained to stay off the furniture, so she ALWAYS places sheets over the sofas and all beds when traveling. Debbie also takes a quilt from home to place over the bedspread on her bed. Sleeping on a familiar bedspread on a bed with Debbie makes Bailey as comfortable as he is at home. If you don't bring a quilt or bedspread, you can use a flat sheet to cover the bed. Bringing their toys and special blankets can also make them feel more at home

Dog Grooming While You Are At One of Our Rentals:

• Liebe (pronounced "LeeBay")

  If your dog will need grooming while you are here and you want the pros to do it, be sure to call "The Impeccable Pooch, Inc." while you are planning your trip to set up an appointment. "The Impeccable Pooch" is located on Hwy 184 in the High Country Square Shopping Center in Banner Elk. Call for an appointment at 828-898-3647. Their email is impeccablepooch@aol.com.  Never allow your dog outside without a leash: This instruction should be followed for the whole trip. As mentioned above in the doggie suitcase list, Debbie recently purchased a 15-foot leash at Wal-Mart. This allows Bailey much more freedom than a short leash when he has to relieve himself outside.
• Tags: The owner of one of our units accidentally did not close their front door properly. Their two curious canines really surprised the owners when they took off exploring on their own. The dogs were not found before their owners had to return home. Several days later, the dogs were found over 4 miles away. Luckily, the owners had the foresight to provide their pets with name tags that included their address and phone numbers. The owners were very pleased to get their dogs back, and felt the extra trip required to get their furry family members was a small price to pay. This story ended with "they lived happily ever after". As we know, most of these stories do not end this way.
• Be sure your tags are up to date on your pet. Make sure that the dog's collar is comfortable, but unable to come off over his head. In the story above when the dogs were lost, the owners put up lots of flyers. The Good Samaritan who found their dogs never saw the flyers, as the dogs had traveled so far away. The dog tags are what got them returned to their owners.
• Make sure you have a written description of your pet and a good color photo with you in case they are lost.

We invite you to view all of our rental properties and contact us by phone at 828.898.9188, e-mail us, or us or online request form to ask questions or request reservations.