Why Dog-Friendly Vacation Rentals Make a Difference

By Ann Wood / Photo at top: Carolina Designs Marketing Director, Ryan Thibodeau’s dog Finn enjoying a Duck sunset.

Dogs are members of our families. They eat with us, sleep with us, why not vacation with us? More people than ever are taking their dogs with them on vacation, and the Outer Banks is one of the most in-demand, dog-friendly beach destinations on the East Coast. Our beaches and parks allow dogs, with restrictions of course. Many Outer Banks restaurants and breweries with outdoor seating areas welcome dogs. Ice cream shops and coffee houses have pup cups available for our prized pooches. After all, what can be better than a day at the beach with your canine companions, followed by a beer at a beachside bistro with them curled up at your feet?

Another reason for the popularity of the Outer Banks for dog lovers is our thousands of vacation rental homes. The growing popularity of vacation rentals has made dog-friendly travel easier, and people are loving it. Maria Fargione, Broker/Property Manager at Carolina Designs explains the appeal of dog-friendly vacation homes, “When a homeowner allows guests to bring their dog along, that family has one less thing to worry about while they’re away from home, and they don’t have to incur extra expenses from paying a pet sitter or boarding company.” Most rental company pet fees are much less than the cost of boarding a dog for the week, saving the guests money while affording them peace of mind.

There is no shortage of pet-friendly options available for guests wanting to bring their pets along. Seaside Vacations and Carolina Designs, for example, each show that about 40% of their homes allow dogs. Keep in mind that pets at a vacation rental home are limited to dogs only. No cats or pot-belly pigs are allowed.

There are a few restrictions though. Rental companies typically limit the number of dogs per reservation to 2 or 3 housebroken dogs. Some homeowners also limit the size of the dogs to reduce their impact on the home. There are also common pet policies that include restrictions on pets going in the pool and the hot tub.

While some may worry about the risks of renting to guests with dogs, there’s a clear reason why so many homeowners do it. The rental performance of a dog-friendly home is better than homes that do not permit dogs. According to Lori Smith, General Manager/COO of Seaside Vacations, “We’ve found homes that are pet-friendly generally book earlier and on average generate about 5 more weeks than comparable homes that do not allow dogs.” This can make a big difference to homeowners whose homes might struggle with rentals otherwise.

Dan Hardy, President of Joe Lamb, Jr. expands on the benefits of allowing dogs in their rental homes, “We have found that, as a general rule, people who travel with pets treat them like children. They are a part of the family. Most pet people are good guests, so allowing dogs in the homes is a good way to go.”

But allowing dogs does have its challenges. Lori Smith describes the challenges for both the management company and the homeowner as, “From a management perspective it’s the additional cleaning. Some dogs shed a lot and it can be difficult to get all the hair. From a homeowner perspective, it’s the risk of damage. While we only occasionally see damage from dogs, it does happen. Of course, the homeowners don’t have to come out of pocket to correct the issue, but it’s still upsetting.”

Luna & Meeka beaming with excitement on a casual beach walk. Special thanks to Vanessa Fede, dog mom and marketing coordinator with Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates.

So, how are the additional cleaning costs and occasional damages covered? Rental companies charge pet fees to help offset the extra cleaning and flea treatments required when there are dogs in the home. Dan Hardy explains, “The pet fee helps us to provide a higher level of care for the property. And we provide the homeowner with a free carpet and upholstery cleaning, paid for by the pet fee collections.”

Dan says that they actually don’t get much damage from pets. And damage that does occur would be covered by their optional Tenant Damage Insurance offered to guests at the time they book their reservation. Dan continues, “We consider pet damage, even chew damage, to be accidental as long as it’s not obviously due to carelessness or deliberate action, like locking a dog in a room and the dog excessively scratching the door to get out.”

To help homeowners to safeguard their home from pet damage and feel more at ease with their decision to allow dogs in their home, rental companies make recommendations for amenities to offer. Fenced areas are popular with guests who book dog-friendly homes, according to Lori Smith, who added, “Fenced-in yards help secure those additional bookings.”

Many companies recommend that owners supply a dog crate or two at their home since they are often too bulky and difficult to pack. This way dogs who have been kennel trained can be kenneled when the guests leave the home. Lori continues, “Most of the pet related damage we see is from a pet being closed in a room. Homes that provide dog crates almost never see pet damage.”

Other recommendations could be related to the flooring at the home. When asked by owners, Mary at Carolina Designs suggests that “owners replace carpeted flooring with hard surface floors, which makes cleaning easier and less wear and tear overall.”

While for most, bringing a dog is a choice. For some, it is a necessity. And for those with service animals, bringing their dog with them is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a guest informs a management company that they are bringing their service animal, the company is only permitted to ask two questions. After those questions are answered, the ADA requires that the dog is permitted into any home, regardless of pet-friendly status.

Therapy and emotional support animals, protected under the Fair Housing Act, are more difficult to define as there are ways for people to obtain documentation online and take advantage of the system. This makes it difficult for the management company. Homeowners who don’t list their home as pet-friendly, don’t want pets in their home.

Managers need to practice within the law, respect the wishes of their homeowners, and be conscious of the comfort of future guests expecting a pet-free experience. Dan Hardy explains it this way, “Therapy and emotional support animals are difficult to establish, but we typically err on the side of the guest, even if the circumstance is suspicious. We don’t want to risk burdening those with needs.” He continues, “And in the case of service and support animals being brought to a non-pet-friendly home, we will still treat the house for fleas and conduct the additional cleaning, even though we don’t collect a pet fee. We consider it a cost of doing business.”

An often overlooked hazard of bringing your dog on vacation is the risk of them getting loose. They can easily become disoriented in an unfamiliar place.

Lori Smith recalls a situation with one of their guests a few years ago, “One of our guest’s dogs got loose and ran away while they were packing their car and getting ready to leave on checkout day. They shared their dog’s photo with one of our staff members. We then shared it on our Facebook page and an OBX locals page and we were able to find the dog within an hour and return it to the guest before they returned home. They were super happy!”

At the heart of it: dog owners love having the option to bring their dogs with them on vacation. Sometimes the time spent with furry family cannot be replaced, like this grateful guest from Carolina Designs who simply could not leave her dog at home, “We had a great vacation and enjoyed our stay, as always! You also helped us achieve a major goal, which was keeping our dog alive until our daughter got home from studying abroad. The dog wasn’t sick when she left for school earlier this year, so it was vital that we were able to provide her with the best care possible to give our daughter one last chance to see her best friend upon her return. Bringing our dog to the beach not only added many great memories to our vacation, but also let us take the best care of her we could. So, thank you!”

The moments we share with family, including our dogs, are irreplaceable. If you can bring your dog along on vacation, do it—you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime.

Author: Ann Wood