love my dog, Ping. She and I are practically inseparable, she follows me wherever I go and often refuses to leave me. I like to take her on vacation with me, but often that is not realistic. Many hotels don’t accept dogs and even if they did, she likes the great outdoors too much to be stuck inside a hotel room for any length of time. These are my tips for finding great care for your pet while you are away:

1. Ask a neighbor. We often ask one of the neighborhood kids to feed, walk and play with her everyday while we are gone. We leave new chew toys and special treats for her to find around the yard, too. This works for those short weekend getaways, but not for longer periods of time. She gets lonely and starts digging. I should mention that my neighborhood is really great, everyone watches out for each other and each other’s dogs. This may not work too well for city dwellers who relish anonymity.

2. Hire a pet sitter. Lists of pet sitters are everywhere, our vet has a list, as does our humane society, the phone book (who uses that?) and there is even a national association of pet sitters. We use a pet sitter when we are going to be gone for more than three days. They charge a higher rate than the neighborhood kids, but if you have multiple pets, the cost per pet can be pretty low. Rates vary, call and get references. I wouldn’t leave Ping with anybody who thought hitting was a good training method. Please confirm how much time they plan to be in your home, discuss and agree on the amount of time your dog will be walked and played with to guarantee good behavior. My dog needs companionship, walks and playtime. Our pet sitter almost takes better care of her than I do.

3. Find a good kennel. There are good kennels and bad kennels. This site shows the difference. Check it out. If I had seen this years ago, I could have prevented my dog from having a really bad experience. They promised me he would walked, petted and cared for everyday. When I went to pick him up, he slunk out of the kennel and had no light in his eyes. Misery emanated from him. Based on his woebegone behavior, I was certain he had never been let out of his cage, ever. I have since visited kennels that are clean and happy places and feel quite comfortable leaving my dog there. Please look at three or four kennels before you select one. You may be using it for years to come. Shop early, the good kennels book up well in advance of the holiday season. Best advice, trust your feelings and check on a few things like water, food and exercise time . It is fine to pay a bit more for better care. You and your pet can each enjoy your separate vacations, guilt free.

Do you have any tips about taking care of your pet while you are away? Please let me know your travel tips, stories and ideas. I really like pet pictures too.

My friend recently lost her dog on a long weekend hike. She finally found him after two weeks of a county wide search. Whether your travels take you far away or just around the corner, keep your collar on your pet with your name and phone number. I also realized with Halloween approaching, pet owners everywhere need to be a bit more vigilant about protecting their dog. As you and your kids travel the streets this Halloween in search of some fabulous treats, remember to keep you pet safe and warm at home.

1. Halloween can be scary. Keep your pet inside, preferably in their crate with a nice toy and a good chew toy or treat. My little dog is an escape artist that rivals Houdini. She will out the door in a flash if she sees an opening.

2. Keep that chocolate up high and out of reach. It is poison to dogs, but they don’t know that. My lab once casually walked by my chocolate cupcakes cooling on the counter and wolfed four down in four seconds, paper and all. He was fine. I had to make another batch for the school party.

3. Light up your dog. If you must take your dog with you, keep it on leash and attach a little neon glow stick to its collar. You can also purchase a glow- in-the- dark collar. Your pet will be seen by pre-occupied drivers and you can find your roving friend easily if it takes off in a fright. Glow sticks work for kids too.

4. Keep it warm. My little Shih Tzu gets cold easily. Her costume is just a warm coat to ward off the chill.

5. Costumes can be a bit tricky. Make sure they won’t choke your pup or hamper their movement.

6. Candles and tails don’t mix. A tail and a candle can be an inflammatory combination. Make sure all glowing candles, especially those inside pumpkins are out of reach of your dog’s wagging tail. Those glow sticks can also be used inside your pumpkin. I really love glow sticks, can you tell?

7. Protect your dog. As the night progresses, tricksters may see your pet as a target for a prank. Keep it safe inside.

8. If you have a cat, I assume it already knows what to do on this day, especially if it is black.

Have a great Halloween.

When it comes to pet friendly lodging, it pays to find the right place. Sure, a lot of hotels say they’re pet friendly, but when you show up with your canine or feline family member – does the front desk actually give you a warm welcome? With just a little up-front effort (mostly, asking the right questions), you can select a hotel that is truly pet friendly.

1. Know that you have more chain options than ever
Luxury trends in pet friendly lodging and hotels have trickled down into chain establishments. There are many hotel chains across the nation – from economy to upscale – that are pet friendly and worry free.

2. Non-chain? Look for a proprietor who’s also a pet owner
Your best bet here is a bed-and-breakfast where it’s made explicit that the owner loves pets. If treats are provided, the owners show photos of their cats, or mention is made of “fenced acreage for your dog to run,” you’ve hit gold.

3. Check the number of pets allowed
Some pet friendly hotels will only allow you to bring one pet inside – but what if you’re traveling with two? “Pet friendly” doesn’t always means “friendly to multiple pets.”

4. “Pet friendly” is a variable term
Dogs are the pets most often welcomed, but only under certain weight limits. Some hotels aren’t quite as happy to host cats, rabbits and other small animals.

5. “Pet friendly” may actually mean “a few rooms only”
Some hotels only dedicate a few rooms, or smoking rooms, to people traveling with pets. This is why it’s so important to find a sincerely pet friendly hotel!

6. Ask if there’s a pet fee, and how it works
Some places will allow your pet to stay for free, but others will charge a per-night, per-pet or per-stay basis. Is it a fee, or a refundable deposit?

7. Double-check all policies and fees before checking in
The rates or rules may have changed since you booked the reservation. Perhaps there’s a cleaning fee, or a deposit. Make sure that everything is mutually understood.

Here is a great resource for Pet Travel if you are interested in reading more!