Pets at DVC

[Goofy's Mum]

We don't have dogs - we have four cats. Even if our babies were amenable to travel (alas, even a trip to the vet is a nightmare with one of them), I wouldn't bring them on vacation. I think the point of a vacation is to get away from the stresses of life, and believe me, pet ownership, for all its advantages, can be stressful. I don't have to worry about getting back to the room to feed them, I don't have to worry about anyone accidentally letting them out when the room is serviced, I don't have to worry about any diseases that might have been inadvertently spread by a previous visitor (yes, that can be a problem with cats - FIV, FEL, FIP, etc.), and I don't have to worry about any damage that they might inflict on the room.

Believe me, I would love to have animals with us all the time. Our cats often run our lives here at home, and I wouldn't change it for anything. Still, it is almost a relief at times that we can come and go as we please without worrying about them. Plus, by the end of our trip, we are ready, willing, and extremely anxious to get home to them, and they are just as happy to see us again. It often enhances our relationship - we are ready to be "parents" to our animals again, ready to hug and kiss and spoil them because we have had a chance to relax and recover from the stresses of life.

Just my opinion.

Susan and David (plus Noah, Abigail, Lydia and Jesse)

 

[Nickymouse]

I'm afraid I have to agree with the majority of you. I love dogs, but don't think that a DVC resort(or any resort for that matter) is the appropriate place for animals. Some dogs are very quiet and their owners do a good job of cleaning up their messes, but along with them, you will always have those who will abuse this privledge if it is granted.

 

[LooHoo]

While I would love the option of bringing my dog Seamus on vacation (I'm thoroughly convinced that he is a Disney character and that Michael Eisner would sign him on for a five year movie contract if he only met him), I certainly respect the "no pets" rule. What I was responding to earlier was the sentiment that some people were putting out there that animals don't have feelings and are not worthy of rights due to their lack of ability to distinguish between right and wrong. While this is a huge philosophical discussion that certainly warrants our attention, we've strayed a bit from the original post. But while I'm here, I do wish that our collective consciousness would embrace the idea that all living things are worthy of our compassion and respect. To follow the logic of an earlier post, that rights should only be afforded to those who can distinguish between right and wrong, would most certainly neglect a huge segment of our population - those with Alzheimer's or developmental disabilities, for example.
To return to a lighter note, I must agree with Goofy's Mum and the notion that the kitties are happier at home. My persians have not yet developed a yen for domestic or international travel (I think Angus would love Scotland, though)It is also interesting to note that many European B&Bs and upscale hotels welcome pets... just a different sensibility I guess. Perhaps one day, when cats inherit the earth, they will insist that we all just take naps and play with catnip mice.
Oh, and just a legal question. My dog signed the DVC contract, but it comes out of my account. If he signed it and I'm paying for it, who technically has right of ownership?

 

[dmadman43]

LooHoo,

I did concede that pets are worthy of respect and care and should not be subject to cruelty. Which, I think supports the argument that they are better off staying back 'home' while their 'owners' are on vacation, as they would not be afforded the same level of care during a vacation to WDW. But that concept is different from "animal rights"

If animals have rights, then what gives us the right to enslave them as pets, or use them for our own selfish purposes, no matter how necessary we think that use or how humanely we assert we do it to them?

 

[LooHoo]

Hi dmadman43,

I think we will be banished to the debate board if we continue this interesting discussion! But to respond to your thoughts - properly caring for domestic animals is not an act of enslavement, as they are dependent on us for their survival. Zoos, circuses, laboratories, etc. are an entirely different story, though.

So where's the best coffee in Seattle?

 

[spiceycat]

TinkerbellRules - I know the kennels at WDW have runs - my cat walks close enough to them to get the dogs upsets. Have you asked to have your dog there? Many owners want their pets inside the building, so they do not want the runs (they are outside). When Spicey is there we use the one at Epcot did use the one at FW but they did away with the small animals room there. Not only cats were kept here. Anyway I make a pest of myself - I generally go between 3 and 6 times - but he is my baby (don't have children) and I have had him for 15 years. He loves it - all the new smells and different animals - loves to chase the lizards, squirrels, birds, insects, bunnies and anything else that crosses his path. He is on a leash so he can't catch anything - so don't get upset. He does not like the horses or the deers (too big and smell to different) - but everything else he loves as much as I do. He even loves being in the kennel. When I have to leave he generally gets in the cage all by himself, this use to bother the workers but after the first time they get used to it. But my sister in law has a trouble with animals, so I can see the other problem too.

 

[pentex]

I am a huge animal lover but I'm agreeing with the folks here. If it could be ascertained that all pet owners would be responsible, that would be great but that could never be.

One time in OKW, the person staying above us did sneak in a dog. He sounded like a little one from the sound of his never-ending yipping bark. The people would go out to the parks and leave him there to bark. We didn't complain but the neighbors next to us told us they did, and then doggie had to go to the kennels.

But I think this shows how pets can pose a problem. If this was a bonafide "pet" room, the people would have resisted moving the dog, I'm sure.

 

[Galahad]

We have never used the kennels at WDW. Some of the posts here imply that they aren't really kennels. How do they work? Can pets be left there overnight? It sounds like walking/feeding during the day is the owner's responsibility? What is the cost? Thanks!

 

[TnRobin]

At the request of the original poster, I am locking this thread.

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<font size=4 color=blue font face="Comic Sans MS">Robin