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Featured Pet-Friendly Vacation Spot
Take time to "waste away"
By Patricia Collier
I've never been to Key West. I'm afraid to go. Well,
not afraid to go, but afraid I won't want to leave.
However, talking with the friendly people at Key
West
Hideaways for this month's featured pet-friendly
vacation spot has me close to packing my suitcases.
This property management company has vacation
accommodations scattered all over Key West and
there's something for everyone's taste. Except they
don't call them "accommodations." They
say "hideaways", and they're offered in different sizes,
shapes and colors. Cottages, condominiums, suites and
rooms - many priced to fit an average budget.
And - of course this is a prerequisite for readers of
FloridaPets.net - most of the properties owned by Key
West Hideaways are pet-friendly. There is a $10
non-refundable nightly pet fee, per pet, but no huge
deposits like some of us have endured at other
vacation locations.
I've been told by more than one person Key West is
one
of the most all-around pet-friendly cities you'll find
in Florida.
Mike Shey, who works at Key West Hideaways, said
he's
been in pizza restaurants where the table next to him
is occupied by a family and the family dog, sitting
right at the table, just like the humans. Indeed, many
restaurants and bars on the island welcome - and
appreciate - canine customers.
As FloridaPets.net reports, you can romp with your
dog
in the sand at what locals appropriately call
Dog
Beach. It's a portion of the beach located
adjacent to Louie's Backyard Restaurant near the
southernmost point of Key West. However, the area is
only about 30 feet wide and previous visitors have
reported a strong undercurrent at times.
There's high fencing on either side, so if your dog
wanders into the non-approved area, it will be
difficult to go get him. Leash your four-legged pal here
as a
precaution.
As mentioned before, you can find anything through
Key
West Hideaways, from small romantic cottages, such as
Conch Cottage on Center Street (pictured here,) or
larger pads, complete with boat slips. According to
Mike, the only place on the island where you can find
luxury accommodations that give both pet lovers and
seafaring visitors exactly what they want is through
Key West Hideaways.
Most hideaways feature amenities such as air
conditioning and ceiling fans, private hot tub or
heated pool, outdoor gas grill, cable TV, VCR, maid
service and much more. As few as two or as many as
twelve people can be accommodated in the various
hideaways.
Now would be the perfect time to head to the Keys
because visitors can enjoy off season rates until
December 14. The island's busy season is December 15
through April 14. While the off season offers peace
and quiet, the in season is the time for Key West's
famous festivals and all the rowdy ambiance they
bring.
There's plenty to do on this sliver of land that is
only
one mile wide, three miles long, and a mere 90 miles
north of Cuba. From enjoying breath-taking sunsets
from the vantage point of historical Mallory Square to
snorkeling at the Reef, from tooling around the place
via motor scooter to visiting some of the old haunts
of Hemingway and other Pulitzer prize winners, Key
West may be just what the doctor ordered for me, oops,
I mean YOU.
For more information about Key West Hideaways or
to
make reservations, check out their Web site at Key West
Hideaways. Don't be surprised if you run into me
down
there. I'll be the lady with three dogs, sitting
outside the Margaritaville Cafe, wearing a green
floppy hat and a sleepy grin. Someone will try to get
my attention, saying I have a telephone call, but I'll
ignore
them because I've changed my name and don't plan to
return to the mainland - ever.
Oh, well, at least I can dream...
Key West Hideaways
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From The Editor |
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Greetings, Everyone!
As summer eases into her annual retirement and
fall
takes over for a spell, it might be a good time to think
about
enjoying a break with your fur buddies and heading out
for
some rest and romping. My pal, Geezer, and I can't
think of a
more magical spot than the one you just read about
in the article above!
Also in this issue, we've got a sweet story and photo,
shared by a reader, telling how a needy dog's message
got through to her via a few not-so-coincidental
incidents.
We've had great feedback about our article last month
on flea control.
Thanks to all who wrote in. Yes,
there
are effective, non-chemical ways to fight pests in
Florida and we are happy to share what we know with
you and your pet.
On a final note, we'd like to share some exciting news
with you. FloridaPets.net has been reviewed
and
deemed worthy of a "2003-2004 Golden Web Award."
The award is given for design and content.
Judging was handled by members of the International
Association of Webmasters and Designers and you can
see our neat little trophy right here -- and on
FloridaPets.net.
We hope you enjoy this issue of the
NewsPetter. Until next month, thanks
for "tailing" along with FloridaPets.net. Be sure to check
out the links at the bottom of this page for more pet-
friendly info. Please pass the word about
FloridaPets.net and write us with any suggestions or
requests.
Patricia Collier
Editor
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Quick Tips and Facts |
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If your pet gets sick while traveling, call the American
Animal Hospital Association toll-free at 1-800-252-2242
from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time to get the location
of a nearby AAHA veterinary clinic.
Did you know? Over 36 million pet owners travel with
their animals each year.
Check it out. FloridaPets.net has pet-friendly vacation
location listings for 28 cities and we are adding to
them every day. We call the establishments
ourselves, so you can be assured of getting the latest
information.
Pet-Friendly Places to Vacation in Florida »
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From Our Readers |
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Chihuahua Power
By Nancy Pendelton
New Port Ritchie, Florida
She came to me first in a dream. A chihuahua, tan
and tiny and shivering. I reached out to her in the mist
of my slumber, to comfort her. But she would not
venture closer.
For the next two weeks, it seemed I saw
chihuahuas everywhere, when before I had seen none.
When my monthly dog magazine came in the mail, they
showcased an adorable chihuahua puppy on the front
cover.
A few days later, my teenage daughter, Mandy,
had a
sleepover party at our house and one of the girls left
her backpack on the couch as the girls went out to the
pool to play. I was startled to see the front cover
adorned with
a...chihuahua!
Suddenly, it all clicked. My dream, my frequent
chihuahua sightings, the magazine cover, the
backpack.
Chihuahua. In need. Animal shelter.
Mandy was thrilled as we headed over to the
shelter the following Monday after I got off work. "Are
we gonna get another one like Butch?" she asked,
remembering her beloved golden lab who had passed
away last summer. She was practically
bouncing off her seat with excitement.
"No," I said, strangely knowing what we were going
to find when we arrived at the shelter, "I think we'll go
for something smaller this time."
The staff was warm and happy to see us,
hopeful, I imagine, that perhaps another one of their
charges would soon have a good home.
She was in the last cage down a long hallway. She
weighed 4 pounds.
She was 12 years old. She had been given up by her
owners when she accidently peed on the tiled kitchen
floor. Her name was "Baby."
And, of course, she was a chihuahua.
"Oh, mommmm!" Mandy
whined, "Isn't she just the most adorable little thing?
Can we take her home, please, please, please?"
"She is twelve years old, honey," I told my
daughter, "She is already pretty old and might not live
much longer." I said the last part slowly, hoping Mandy
would understand my meaning without me having to
say more. Visions of our recent loss were close at hand.
"Oh, that's OK, mom," Mandy replied, "Even if she
only has a week, she needs us now more than we need
to worry about ourselves."
Such wisdom from my usually self-absorbed
adolescent comes once in a great while and always
startles me.
And so it was and so it is. "Baby" smiles smugly
from her comfy basket by the couch. She is now 13
and the vet says she is quite healthy. She romps, she
barks, she
eats double her weight. Everyone adores her and she is
clearly happy I finally got the message. Sometimes
she'll give me a certain look. It's as if she's
saying, "Chihuahua Power, mom!"
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Casting Call |
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Here at FloridaPets.net, we want to give you a chance
to tell everyone about your pets and show off their
photos.
We know everyone will enjoy them, so don't be shy.
Send your stories and/or photos to
WebMistress. Depending on which you are
submitting,
put "Story" or "Photo" or "Story and Photo" in the
subject line of your email.
NOTE: Please do NOT send stories as
attachments.
Either type the story in a text editor, then copy and
paste
the story into your emails, or type the story directly
into
the body of your emails. You may send photos as
attachments. Thank you for your submissions!
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Stop by CandleCarousel
and buy a candle, candle
holder, oil warmer or fragrant oil between now and
September 30, 2003, mention this ad, and they'll take
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THE WELL TRAVELED DOG
by Sandra Gurvis
If you travel with your dog frequently, or even if
you never have but think you might, we would like to
recommend the book, "The Well-Traveled Dog" by
Sandra Gurvis.
Here at FloridaPets.net, we are endeavoring to find
pet-friendly vacation spots for travelers around Florida,
but Gurvis takes this goal to an international level.
Gurvis offers info about pet-friendly spots all over the
globe, great tips on preparing for a trip and the basic
rules of pet etiquette for both domestic and
international travel. $12.95.
You can buy "The Well-Traveled Dog" here:
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