Van parks charging extra for dogs

Mark I was annoyed at $ 4.00 each, but $12.00 is just obscene! Yes they have a right to make a profit but am getting tired of getting ripped off, particularly when they think you have no options. NSW & Vic seem to be the worst at the moment. Steve

Yes Bob, Voting with our feet is probably the most effective way.Conversley, getting behind parks that do make our "fur kids" welcome, passing the word around and encouraging them as much as possible, whilst just leaving the negative ones for those that prefer not to have dogs / animals around them.....perhaps?. Steve

Duncan I really hope the are in the minority and stay that way.
It's not easy at times and some sacrifices re venues have to be made, I guess it's an individual choice. We have met some really great " doggy" people in free camps. Steve.

I think Duncan is on the money with this. Our dog doesn't travel with us either due to the restrictions

Unfortunately Rod, your probably right.its a hard thing to defend when there are dog owners out there that just don't care.On the other hand maybe there should be some kid free parks as well, I've seen some horrendous messes created by kids running amok in parks :-)
Steve.

You are right there too Steve. We don't have any pets now but have seen some way better behaved dogs than humans in our travels.

Ain't that the truth Tony..have seen that ourselves more than once! Steve.

Hi John & Lynne, that's it guys, I don't have an issue with a doggy deposit provided it's fairly administered...no drama.
We love our "fur kids"but acknowledge that all dogs must behave well and be controlled, not only for the safety of people but for safety of other dogs as well.I do have a problem with these parks that feel it is their right to screw as much as they can out of any poor bugger that stumbles across them! Like you we are happy to support any park that does "the right thing"' especially if they're dog friendly :-)
Cheers Steve.

Dingo Jim,is great to hear about dog friendly parks going that extra mile to make dogs and their owners feel welcome, more power to them.Like you any park that doesn't want our dogs doesn't want us and we will press on until we find a park that does! All the best, Steve.
Hey what do you reckon....maybe the good folk at EO might start a new section for all us doggy travellers, with the facility to list dog/ animal friendly parks, dog minding services or individuals etc..there's a lot of us out here...might be worth a thought?.

Gidday Al,mate know exactly where your comming from.
We have need to go to the Gold Coast 3 or 4 times a year, have only been able to find 2 parks on the Gold Coast that will take us and our pooches!
We are currently planning a trip which takes us into Adelaide for a week or so,so far have only found one park that is dog friendly, it's at Belair and we will be supporting those good folk..my experience so far is city areas seem to be tougher than rural/ country areas?..if you have a look at my last reply maybe there is a good case for EO to take up the cause?? Cheers Steve.

Hi Al we live in Rockingham but travel with our dogs everywhere we go intending to come out your way soon.
Have come across these site's http://www.banksiatourist.com.au/contents/dog-sites.html
http://mysticpegasus.com/TRAVEL/MP-Dog-Friendly-Caravan-Parks-in-WA.html
http://online4thepets.com/pet%20friendly%20accommodation/Australia/Western%20Australia/perth_and_western_australia_pet_friendly_accommodation.html
http://www.acclaimparks.com.au/swanvalley/facilities.php

Our mutts are quite large so we tend to free camp as much as possible, hard to do that when the city is the destination I suppose.
Plenty of dog beaches and exercise areas around Perth most of the councils list them, fair few in the Rockingham area as well. Don't know so much about the caravan parks around here, we are usually heading somewhere else. Some good accommodation not caravan parks in the South West, we use for short breaks these guys are great http://www.avocachalet.com.au/ although they have been burnt a bit by some careless dog owners recently. http://myweb.westnet.com.au/chesara/ are pretty good as well.
Looking forward to reading about any others if anyone knows of some.

South of Perth is this camping area. I have heard good things about it esp that it is easy to catch the train to Perth from it (takes 30 mins on the train).

Bonney’s Water Ski Park
136 St Albans Rd
Baldivis 6171

Dogs on leads welcome

Email: waski@bigpond.net.au
Phone: (08) 9524 1401

Might be worth checking out?

Good question:-)
I believe that guide / assistance dogs are able to access a lot of places that "normal" dogs can't...shopping centres, public transport etc. personally I think it would be a pretty hard hearted manager that would refuse a visually impaired person in a group because they had a guide dog. It would be extremely disappointing to even think they would consider charging someone in this circumstance extra!!
Thanks Steve.

By Law they can not prevent guide dogs etc in any place accessible to the public..
At least that's my understanding of the law.

Disco.

Found an exception to this last year at Dubbo Zoo. A Quarantine issue I believe.

Thankyou Rod, will do cheers Steve

Giddy Bantam, you make some interesting points.
I agree with what your saying if for instance we were staying in a dog friendly cabin or similar, but that extra cleaning / inspection should already by factored into the tariff.for that service.I have no problem with that, I would expect to pay extra for the convienence of having my pet allowed to stay inside with me.
However in the case of renting a caravan site & supplying your own accommodation, you have already paid for whatever "extras" the owners have deemed that you should contribute to.
A dog uses no power takes up no extra space, it's owner should be picking up its messes, any water it would consume would be minimal, as for enjoying the amenities....can't use the pool, jumping castle, playground,camp kitchen area, playroom, ablutions, what's left? Walking on their grass..if there is any. Bantam, I don't mind paying my own way and am happy to pay a reasonable amount, just getting sick of some..( not all by any means) of these park owners who want to rip us off! Cheers Steve :-)

As a general rule, pets are not allowed in on-site accommodation units, Chalets, onsite vans or hotel/motel units.

This is not at the discretion of the owner/manager of the unit, but a Health department directive.(In WA at least).

Bringing your pets (cats, Dogs, etc) should be at the discretion of the park owner/manager.

If you don't like that, you are welcome to go somewhere else that does take your furry/fluffy kids.

Disco.

So ya think the hygene issues associated with dogs begin and end with picking up the mess.

So what about the ground contamination from where the mess has been and..yeh not only does the dog walk on the grass bit it pisses on it too.

How then do the owners also account for the fleas, ticks, worms and other parasites that the dog may carry.

OR should they be putting every dog thru a compulsory drenching & dipping programe before being allowed on site.

I certainly would not like to occupy a site that has had a dog dumping, pissing and shedding parasites on it for the week before I arrive.

Not to mention the loss of amenity.

I've owned dogs cats & various other pets, But let me tell you, a no pets alloweed sign on any sort of paid accomodation increases its value and amenity...I am not alone.

Actually accomodating you pet may in fact loose them income.

serioulsy think about it.


cheers

Plenty of KIDS piss and poo on the nice grass area also, can't see the difference myself. I'm not a real dog lover, but most are much better behaved than most kids I see.

Cheers

Gidday again Bantam:-)
Mate I hear what you saying, whilst I would not totally dispute what you say, you obviously have a very strong opinion on this and that is totally your right to do so :-)
I think at this point we agree to disagree,however as you have asked me to consider your points...which I have, I would request that you also consider these:
Any piece of open ground can be subject to all sorts of contamination, human..deification, chemical, pesticides etc, native animals..ticks,worms etc..cattle ticks etc, birds..lice etc..I think it's a bit ruff (sorry mate couldn't help myself :-) ) to blame poor old woofers for the whole deal.mate years ago I did a big function in the middle of a paddock, it was for a mine opening, a staff of 30 or so assisted me to transform the area with marquees etc, meals baretc etc, we worked for three days setting up and doing the function, the day after the function I had 20 or so of my crew down, some of them quite I'll and distressed, I suffered this as well, we came out in extremely itchy large welts, red angry looking things, headaches, nausea etc....diagnosis of three different doctors......kangaroo lice...not a dog in site...cheers Steve.

Hi TTTSA, thanks..personally...I'm with you..but I admit I am biased
Regards Steve.

A caravan site is not a piece of open ground, it is a space advertised and sold as fit for human habitation.

It is reason able to expect it to be free of vermin and in a reasonably hygeenic condition.....I believe that expectation would stand up in court.

As for children the behave like pigs...well there should be a surcharge for those too.

cheers

Easy to pick on children and dogs..adult humans are worse than both combined.

Cheers
Greg

I've found two places that let the dog stay inside with me in the room.
Paynes Find and Kunawarritji.

I would like to thank you all for your thoughts, seems we may be drifting away a bit I was trying to see how widespread charging extra for dogs in cvp's is, anyhow I sincerely thank you all and wish you all safe and happy travels in our beautiful land.....with or without animals
All the very best....Cheers Steve

Hi Howard, yes that is quite possible I guess, my experience, and I stress my experience only is that dog friendly parks seem to do very well I have had trouble getting a site in a dog friendly park on quite a few occasions, where non dog friendly parks in the same town have sites available....just my observation.
I do understand that persons not travelling with pets may prefer to not have animals around them....isn't it great that at this time we pretty much all have a choice of sorts..all the best, Steve.