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Chicago O’Hare dog-friendly hotel: La Quinta

On our recent trip to Chicago, Chloe and I spent a couple of nights at the La Quinta Chicago O’Hare and here’s our report.

Dog’s-eye view: All of La Quinta’s properties are pet-friendly, and the desk clerk very matter-of-factly checked me and Chloe in. There was no extra fee for her, and I did not have to sign any kind of pet policy form. Our room was conveniently located near an outside door, so taking Chloe for walks was easy. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much scope for walking — there are several large patches of grass around the hotel and the neighboring Spaghetti Warehouse, but the area the hotel is located in does not have any sidewalks, so those patches of grass are it.

What I liked: The hotel was clean, pleasant and a very good deal. There is free wi-fi and a complementary breakfast every morning, featuring cold cereals, toast and bagels, fruit, and a make-your-own waffle station. The pictures of the rooms and the hotel on the web site (click on the first link above) are accurate. And this is a minor point, but as a pet owner, I really appreciated it: The beds are on platforms, not legs, so I didn’t have to spend all of my hotel time on my knees retrieving Chloe’s ball from underneath the bed.

What I didn’t like: It’s a bit too much of a stretch to call the La Quinta Chicago O’Hare an “airport hotel.” It takes about 15-20 minutes to get there from O’Hare, which also explains why you have to wait awhile for the shuttle bus to show up at the airport when you call to request it. (On the bright side, there is a shuttle. Also, I kind of expected the hotel to be farther out than its web site suggests, so that wasn’t a problem for me.)

Next time? We would certainly return. Although it’s quite a distance from O’Hare, it’s a great value for money, clean and safe.

La Quinta Inn — Chicago O’Hare
1900 East Oakton St.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
T: 847-439-6767

Traveling by car with a small dog: How it works

Last weekend, Chloe and I flew to Chicago to meet my oldest niece, just finishing her first year at college. I rented a minivan and we filled it with my niece’s stuff and drove to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Chloe and I had driven together before for two or three hours at a time, but that was in my own car, equipped with Chloe’s beloved Snoozer Lookout, and leaving from our own driveway. This took more preparation.

Packing for a road trip

Chloe’s Snoozer certainly wouldn’t fit in a suitcase, so I chose instead to pack a harness and strap, as described in an earlier Dog Jaunt post. I could also have chosen to have her travel in her airplane carrier, which has straps through which a seat belt can pass, or I could have packed a Pet Tube — read through the post to find the option that works best for you and your dog.

Since it’s getting hot, I also packed a Zentek pad to put on the seat under Chloe. Your goal is to protect your dog from a hot or otherwise uncomfortable seat surface, and to protect the seat from your dog’s fur, drool, etc. As usual, I packed Chloe’s travel crate and her tote (containing her food, treats, toys, grooming supplies, etc.) in her suitcase.

I packed copies of her shot record, in case she had a medical emergency. A shot record is also necessary if you need to temporarily board your dog while you’re traveling — at Disneyland’s day kennel, for example.

Bring a picture of your dog with you, in case the worst happens and your dog gets lost. If you have a picture with you, you can act rapidly, giving copies of the photo to local animal shelters and rescue organizations, and creating lost-pet posters and handouts. Either carry a hard-copy photo with you, or upload a picture to a website (e.g., Flickr, SmugMug, FaceBook) so you can make a printout any time at FedEx Kinko’s.

Settling in to the car

When we got the minivan at the airport, I set Chloe up on the right rear passenger seat, on her pad and in her harness, and clipped the strap to the small bar supporting the seat belt socket (the same bar parents use to secure baby seats). I suction-cupped a sun shade to her window, and I took her tote out of her suitcase and set it on the floor of the van, so it and all its contents were close at hand. And I loaded up on bottled water, for me and for Chloe.

As I’ve already emphasized in an earlier post, it is dangerous to allow your dog to travel without a restraint of some kind (harness-and-strap, crate, carrier, tethered to a car seat), and it is dangerous for her to travel in the front passenger seat. The safest place for her is in the rear passenger seat, and if she’s on the right side, you can keep an eye on her (and vice versa).

On the road

When you’re on a long road trip, feed your dog her normal food at her usual times (morning and evening, in Chloe’s case), but not while the car is moving (some dogs get carsick if they have food or water en route). Be sure to give your dog a really long walk before setting out, so that she’ll sleep as much as possible. Stop every 2-3 hours to give her a bathroom break and a drink. And give her a long walk when you park for the night, to stretch her legs and reward her for her forbearance.

Your dog should wear her collar, with ID tag and rabies tag, at all times while you’re traveling. Whenever you plan to remove her from the car, clip on her leash before you open the door, even if you are positive that she won’t bolt. A recent Seattle Times article about an utterly reliable 7 year-old Golden Retriever who bolted from his family when he was spooked at a rest area by a train whistle illustrates the point: Buck ordinarily never left the son’s side, but “‘When Buck heard the whistle, he took off like a shot. None of us even saw him.'”

Keep an eye on the sun, and make sure your sun shade is doing its job throughout the day. Also keep an eye on the temperature in the back seat: My own station wagon has a vent just for the right rear passenger seat, but the minivan I rented didn’t, so I needed to adjust the vents to send some cool air back to Chloe.

Under no circumstances should you leave your dog in the car by herself! Even on a pleasant day, a car interior can be unbearable, as a recent MSNBC article makes clear:

When it’s 72 degrees, a car in direct sun can reach an internal temperature of 116. Even in the shade, a car can be 10 to 20 degrees hotter than outdoors, and cracking the window has almost no effect.

Veterinarian Cate Rinaldo, a volunteer with United Animal Nations, points out that dogs don’t have sweat glands all over their bodies like humans do, so the main way they can cool off is by panting, which isn’t very efficient.

Once a dog’s body temperature gets over about 106 — normal temperature is around 101 — the result is “everything from nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, systemic organ failure, and it happens fast, within a matter of minutes,” she says.

It’s also a security hazard, since even a slightly-open window invites car or dog theft.

There’s no reason you’d need to leave your dog in the car, though — choose gas stations where you can pay at the pump, choose dog-friendly restaurants or restaurants you can drive through, and when you need a bathroom break, tuck your small dog into her stealth carrier (for Chloe, this is her messenger bag) and bring her with you.

Chloe snoozed almost continuously, but when she was awake she appreciated a really good chew toy to work on. Bring ones that your dog hasn’t seen for a while, or ones that she can’t resist, to keep her interest. For Chloe, that means Texas Toothpicks, a windy pipe, or a bully stick.

Traveling by Los Angeles area public transit with a small dog

Photo by Ron Reiring

Photo by Ron Reiring

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA, MTA or “Metro”) operates buses, bus rapid transit, light rail and subway lines in L.A. County.

The bus services include Metro Local, Metro Rapid and Metro Express. LACMTA also operates the Orange Line, a bus rapid transit system connecting Warner Center and the North Hollywood Metro Red Line subway station in the San Fernando Valley. LACMTA also runs three light rail lines (Gold, Blue and Green) and two subway lines (Red and Purple). More light rail lines are under construction.

I spoke with a LACMTA customer service representative and learned that Metro allows pets on all of its bus and rail lines if they are in a carrier. There is no fee for your pet, but the carrier must be hard-sided. That’s the first time I’ve heard that requirement, and if you own a soft-sided carrier I’d give it a try before buying a new one just for Metro trips — I also suggest that your existing carrier is more likely to be overlooked if you’re careful to put your pet entirely into it before you get on board, and you keep her entirely enclosed while she’s traveling.

Metrolink

Metrolink operates a commuter rail service serving Los Angeles County and several neighboring counties (San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Orange, Los Angeles and North San Diego to Oceanside). Metrolink’s pet policy, according to the customer service representative I spoke with, is that pets fully enclosed in carriers are allowed. The carrier must fit in your lap or under your legs. There is no fee for your pet.

Other regional public transit providers

There are lots of other public transit providers in the area. Here are the better-known ones, with information about their pet policies (please note that where I have not given you a link, I got the pet policy information in a phone conversation):

Alhambra Community Transit (ACT) operates buses in an around Alhambra, CA. Only service animals are allowed on board.

Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) operates buses serving Palmdale, Lancaster and northern L.A. County. Its weekday commuter lines link Antelope Valley with Los Angeles. Pets (other than service animals) are not allowed on board.

Barstow Area Transit (BAT) operates buses in the city of Barstow and in surrounding San Bernardino County communities. Its pet policy states: “Only medical service animals and small pets in secure and humane carrying containers are permitted.”

Beach Cities Transit operates buses “connecting the Beach Cities – Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo. Additionally, the service provides east/west connectivity to the City of Torrance.” Only service animals are allowed on board.

Big Blue Bus provides “bus service to Santa Monica and the west side of Los Angeles.” BBB’s pet policy is as follows: “All animals, except guide or service animals, must be in a pet carrier.”

Culver CityBus operates buses serving “the Westside communities of Venice, Westchester, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Palms, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, Century City, and Culver City.” Its pet policy is brief: “Only service animals are allowed on the bus.” [6/12/11 Happy, happy news from reader Bonnie, who wrote to tell me that the Culver CityBus pet policy now says “Only service animals are allowed on the bus. All other pets must be secured in a pet carrier to board.” Thanks, Bonnie!]

DowneyLINK operates buses in and around the city of Downey, CA. Only service animals are allowed on board.

El Monte Transit operates buses within the city of El Monte, CA and provides connections to Metrolink (at the El Monte station). Only service animals are allowed on board.

El Sol (or the East Los Angeles Shuttle) operates three bus lines in unincorporated East Los Angeles. Only service animals are allowed on board.

FlyAway Bus provides bus service to LAX from the Van Nuys Airport, Union Station, and Westwood. Small dogs in carriers are allowed; you may have to pay full fare for your dog (you certainly will, if her carrier occupies a seat).

Foothill Transit operates bus lines serving “the eastern San Gabriel Valley, California; including express buses to Los Angeles and Pasadena.” Foothill only allows service animals on its buses.

Glendale Beeline operates buses within the city of Glendale, CA and provides connections to Metrolink. Small pets fully enclosed in carriers are allowed.

Gold Coast Transit (formerly called South Coast Area Transit) operates buses in western Ventura County. Small pets in carriers are allowed on board.

Long Beach Transit operates a bus service in Long Beach, Lakewood and Signal Hill, and makes connections with Metro’s light rail service. LBT also runs the AquaLink, a water taxi “to the most popular attractions in Long Beach Harbor and on down to Alamitos Bay Landing,” and the AquaBus, a water taxi “to the most popular attractions on the Long Beach Harbor waterfront.” The customer service representative I spoke with said that small pets in carriers are welcome, at no charge.

Montebello Bus Lines operates express and local bus lines serving East Los Angeles, Commerce and Montebello. MBL’s pet policy states: “No animals or pets allowed on the bus. Service animals are excluded.”

Norwalk Transit operates buses in Norwalk, CA and nearby areas of southeast Los Angeles County. Pets in carriers small enough to rest on your lap are allowed on board.

OmniTrans (or “Omni”) operates buses within San Bernardino County and in parts of neighboring Riverside and Los Angeles Counties. Omni’s pet policy states: “Pets may only ride the bus if they are in a secure pet carrier that fits on your lap.”

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) operates bus routes within Orange County and to neighboring Los Angeles county communities, as well as express buses to Los Angeles and major Riverside County and San Bernardino County cities. Pets in carriers small enough to rest on your lap are allowed.

Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency (PVVTA) operates bus routes in the Palo Verde Valley. Pets in carriers small enough to rest on your lap are allowed.

Pasadena Area Rapid Transit System (ARTS) operates buses in and around Pasadena, CA. Only service animals are allowed on board.

Pass Transit operates buses in and around Beaumont, CA. Its pet policy is as follows: “The only animals allowed on the bus are service animals and small animals in secure pet carriers.”

Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) operates buses and express commuter buses (“CommuterLink”) in western Riverside County, and a downtown Riverside “trolley” service. Its pet policy is the most detailed I’ve yet encountered:

Small pets and non-service or guide animals are allowed only if owners comply with the following rules:

1. Small animals such as birds and cats must be secured in a commercially made pet carrier or cage that can be safely placed on the passenger’s lap and does not require a separate seat.
2. Glass, breakable or homemade carriers are not permitted.
3. The animal must be completely enclosed within the pet carrier or cage at all times.
4. The pet carrier or cage must completely prevent the animal from escaping or physically contacting another passenger or of escape.
5. The pet carrier or cage must be constructed so that no bedding material or pet waste can exit.

The animal must not interfere with, disrupt or disturb any service or guide animals on the vehicle.

[2/24/12 Checking back on the site, this language has disappeared. However, the Dial-A-Ride part of the site states that “Small pets are allowed if they are secured in a pet carrier that can be safely placed on a customer’s lap.”]

Santa Clarita Transit provides bus service in and around Santa Clarita, express bus service between Santa Clarita and downtown Los Angeles, and connections to Metrolink. Only service animals are allowed on Santa Clarita Transit buses.

Simi Valley Transit (SVT) provides bus service throughout Simi Valley. Its pet policy states: “Only certified service animals, or animals confined in an approved animal carrier, are allowed on SVT vehicles.”

SunLine Transit Agency operates buses serving “Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, Riverside County.” Its pet policy is as follows: “Keep small pets (except service animals) secured in carry-on cages designed for public transportation.”

Thousand Oaks Transit (TOT) “operates four routes serving Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake.” When I first wrote this post, its pet policy stated that “Small pets in covered, well-secured cages are allowed if held on the passenger’s lap.” That language is no longer on its site, as of 2/24/12, but the customer service rep I spoke to told me that small pets in carriers are still allowed on board.

Torrance Transit offers eight bus routes “serving Los Angeles to Long Beach.” Small pets in carriers are allowed on board.

Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) “provides local bus service for the communities of Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorville, and San Bernardino County.” Pets in carriers small enough to fit on your lap or under the seat are allowed.

Whittier Transit operates buses in Whittier, CA and provides connections to Metro, Foothill Transit, Montebello Bus Lines and Norwalk Transit. Only service animals are allowed on Whittier Transit buses.

For other posts about traveling with dogs on public transit, take a look at Dog Jaunt’s handy guide!

Honda Element: The dog-friendly version

This will appeal to owners of bigger dogs than Chloe, but I can’t resist telling you about Honda’s dog-friendly Element. It was shown to reporters at the New York Auto Show, and includes a built-in ramp for access to the trunk, a fitted dog bed in the trunk area (complete with safety restraints, a fan and a spill-proof water bowl), washable seat covers, and an adorable paw logo on the side of the vehicle. Honda has not yet set a price on the pet package, and says only that it will be available in “fall 2009.” Check out this video from the Car Tech blog!

Traveling by Washington State Ferries with a dog

Photo by stevevoght

Photo by stevevoght

We take the ferry from Anacortes to the San Juan Islands frequently (and sometimes on to Sidney, B.C.), but the Washington State Ferries also go from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, Seattle to Bremerton, Seattle to Vashon Island, Edmonds to Kingston, Mukilteo to Clinton (on Whidbey Island), and Keystone (on Whidbey Island) to Port Townsend. There are also ferries from Fauntleroy (in West Seattle) to Vashon Island and on to Southworth (on the Kitsap Peninsula), and from Vashon Island to Point Defiance (in Tacoma).

You may either walk or drive on to all of these ferries. Old hands will often stay in their cars and snooze during the crossing, but all of the trips are gorgeous and worth seeing from the upper levels of the ferry. There is an elevator, if you have a bunch of luggage or don’t want to face the stairs.

Some ferries have a small café, and all of them have vending machines. It is perfectly acceptable to stretch out on the benches and snooze (unless the ferry is crowded and it would be cruel to take up a whole bench). Stroll on the decks, but be prepared: even during the summer you’ll need a jacket. People bring cards and board games to entertain themselves, they read, and a couple of times we’ve been within earshot of a really good guitar player.

Dogs are allowed on board, on the following terms: “Pets in carriers are allowed in interior passenger areas on vessels. Uncaged, unrestrained pets are not allowed to remain in interior passenger areas for the duration of a voyage. In some cases, described below, leashed pets may transit though interior areas in order to access exterior passenger areas.”

Read the FAQ I’ve given you the link to for details, but put briefly, if your pup is leashed, you don’t have to stay down on the car deck (that used to be the case, but WSDOT has kindly recognized that “it is impractical to require walk on passengers and their leashed pets to remain on the auto deck for the duration of a voyage”). Now — but only if your dog is leashed — you’re allowed to walk briskly through the passenger cabin to access sheltered exterior passenger areas like “shelter decks, promenade decks and/or sun decks.” (This is a pretty generous policy, considering that BC Ferries, the neighboring system to the north, requires pets to “remain on vehicle decks for the duration of a voyage.”)

That doesn’t apply if you drive on with your pet, even if you have a leash with you in the car: “The policy allowing walk on passengers with pets to access exterior passenger spaces on upper decks does not apply to animals boarding in vehicles that can serve as shelter to drivers and their pets.”

Be aware that if you walk on with your dog, you will have to remain outside with her for the crossing, and while the exterior passenger spaces you can access with her will give you a better view than the car deck does, they will be windy and can be frigid.

Discounts at Motel 6 and Studio 6 for AKC-registered dogs

Motel 6 has long accepted pets as guests — and thank goodness, because there are lots of Motel 6 properties, they’re generally dependable, and though they’re no-frills they’re priced accordingly. Now the prices are even more reasonable, since the American Kennel Club has struck a deal with Motel 6 and its extended-stay sibling, Studio 6: AKC-registered dog owners can now get a 10% discount on room reservations nationwide.

Here’s how it works, according to the AKC press release: “To reserve a room and activate the discount, all AKC registrants can log on to www.motel6.com and enter access code CP542764 for Motel 6 or visit www.staystudio6.com and enter the access code CP542765 for Studio 6 reservations.”

Dog jaunt: Visiting Block Island, RI with a dog

Photo by apartment 131

Photo by apartment 131

This post started as an idle stroll down memory lane: My college roommate has family on Block Island and took me there on a couple of day trips, and then I took my parents there on longer visits, so when I bought my first dog-oriented New England guidebook I turned to the entry for Block Island and found…well, very little. The Dog Lover’s Companion to New England lists and describes a number of parks on the island that allow leashed dogs to visit, but the only pet-friendly hotel it mentions is the Blue Dory Inn (the AAA PetBook came up blank). Could that be it?

Soon the phone was getting a workout, and here are the results. I would love to get your feedback about the activities and places I’ve described, and to hear about any others you and your dog have enjoyed — please send me a comment or an e-mail!

Where to stay

Whenever I spent the night on the island, I stayed at the Surf Hotel, now closed, so I can’t give you personal feedback about these properties. My best advice is to check them out on Tripadvisor, or with a Google search, before booking.

The Blue Dory Inn allows dogs in any of its cottages or suites with an outside entrance, plus one room in the inn itself which has an outside entrance — for a total of eight pet-friendly rooms. The inn does not have a maximum pet weight, but does charge $25 per pet, per visit. Dogs are not to be left unattended in your room; if you do have to step out to dinner, however, they’ll understand (but they request that you leave your cell phone number with them in case an issue arises while you’re out). Call 800-992-7290 or 401-466-5891 or visit the Blue Dory’s web site.

The Gothic Inn has four pet-friendly units — one room and three apartments, all with direct access to the outdoors. They have no weight limit on visiting dogs, charge no fee, and require no deposit. They request only that your dog leave her room in good condition, and that you pick up her poop. Call 800-944-8991 or 401-466-2918 or visit the hotel’s web site.

One of The Gothic Inn’s innkeepers, Bennet Wohl, mentioned that he has a pet-friendly cottage for rent. Stay in his renovated former barn on a 32-acre farm about a mile outside town, with your own private hike to Fresh Lake. Call Bennet Wohl at The Gothic Inn, or contact Dave Burns at Block Island Holidays (call 800-905-0590 and ask for the Wohl Cottage).

The Inn at Block Island has two pet-friendly rooms. Dogs under 75 lbs. are welcome. There is no deposit required, but there is a $25 per day pet fee. When you leave the room, your dog should accompany you, or remain behind in a crate. Call 877-324-4667 or 401-466-5524 or visit the inn’s web site.

The Island Home, a charming Victorian B&B located between Old Harbor and the Great Salt Pond, allows dogs in some of its Carriage House rooms, “subject to availability and an additional charge of $25.” Call 888-261-6118 or 401-466-5944 or visit the inn’s web site.

Islebliss, on Spring St., is a studio apartment that can be rented nightly or weekly. One dog may join you; there is no additional fee, but your credit card will be charged for damage caused by your dog. Call Block Island Reservations at 800-825-6254 (a brief description of the property is available at BIR’s website).

Mason Hall Condo, on High St., has two bedrooms and a full kitchen opening to a cathedral-ceiling living room. Although it appears on the Block Island Reservations’ weekly rental page, it may also be rented nightly in the spring and fall (if you’re planning a summer visit, ask about nightly rentals — no harm in trying!). One dog may join you; again, there is no additional fee, but your credit card will be charged for damage caused by your dog. Call Block Island Reservations at 800-825-6254 (a brief description of the property is available at BIR’s website).

The Old Bakery Guest House, on Water St., has two 2-bedroom suites, both opening onto a large water-view deck. Pets are welcome for an additional $50 per night (no additional fee once you reach $150). Call Block Island Reservations at 800-825-6254 (a brief description of the property is available at BIR’s website).

The Spring House Hotel doesn’t allow dogs in the hotel, but does allow dogs under 35 lbs. in its condo rental units (Seawind), one street over. There is no deposit required and no pet fee. Dogs are not required to be crated when you are away from the condo. Two of the units rent nightly, with a 2-night minimum; four units rent weekly. They have a “distant ocean view.” They are also darned pricey, but the condos are attractive and packed with amenities. Call 800-234-9263 or 401-466-5844 or visit the hotel’s web site.

Unfortunately, several popular Block Island hotels do not welcome dogs, including The National Hotel, The Atlantic Inn, the Island Manor Resort, The Narragansett Inn, and Champlin’s Hotel, Marina & Resort (although it allows dogs in the marina).

Where to eat

Many Block Island restaurants have decks and patios, and by calling around I’ve learned that some restaurants are willing to overlook a well-behaved dog lying in these outside eating areas, but the official word is that dogs are not allowed. Size up the situation and act accordingly.

Alternatively, consider getting take-out and having a picnic. An excellent and fun choice for breakfast and lunch would be Bethany’s Airport Diner, on Center Road at the airport: they have take-out, and they also have picnic tables. Another option, mentioned in a post on Fodor’s forum, is the Old Harbor Take-Out: “In [Old] Harbor, by the ferry loading dock, there is a food stand with about 12 picnic tables, situated on the street. We had the cold lobster roll, fries and frozen lemonade. Very good for stand food. Maybe the best cold lobster roll I had on the island…” Also consider Rebecca’s Seafood Takeout, at 435 Water St., which is tiny but choice (open for all meals and offers more than just seafood), and Three Sisters, on Old Town Rd., whose terrific sandwiches and salads can be ordered for pick-up (they also have picnic tables).

A third alternative is making up a picnic yourself at Block Island Grocery and/or Block Island Depot, both on Ocean Ave. You can get good sandwiches at BIG’s deli counter, and the Depot has good cheese, bread and produce.

Things to do

Hiking and walking on the beach — that’s what it’s all about on Block Island! For both activities, though, your dog needs to be on a leash. In fact, leashes are required all over Block Island. The rule is of particular concern during the late spring, when the piping plovers are nesting, but is enforceable year-round. (On the bright side, dogs were banned altogether from BI beaches until a few years ago, so things are moving the dogs’ way.)

For hikes, your best resources are The Dog Lover’s Companion to New England and the hikes mentioned on a great site I just found: www.hikewithyourdog.com. The post for Block Island hikes is truly tempting. Block Island has seventeen miles of beaches, ranging from family-friendly sandy beaches with concessions and lifeguards to rockier, more isolated havens. Here’s a useful list to get you started.

Biking is both fun and practical, especially if you’ve taken one of the car-free ferries or a plane to get to the island. Block Island is a bit hilly, but, as my bike-mad father says, there’s no hill you can’t walk up. If you think you’d like to rent a bike on the island, here is a list of bike rental shops. Check out Dog Jaunt’s earlier post about biking with your small dog for dog carriers that attach to a bicycle.

Getting to Block Island

You have five ferry choices (only one that runs year-round) and one commercial plane choice:

Block Island Ferry (call 866-783-7996 or 401-783-7996) runs the year-round ferry from Point Judith to the island. Only the regular ferry departing from Point Judith in Galilee, Rhode Island accepts cars, and reservations for them are required. The crossing takes about 55 minutes. BIF does not charge a fee for dogs; on this ferry, dogs are welcome but must be leashed.

Block Island Ferry also runs a seasonal high-speed passenger ferry from Point Judith to Block Island, starting in mid-May and ending in mid-October. On the high-speed ferry, the crossing takes only 30 minutes. On this ferry, dogs must be leashed and must stay outside on the deck.

Finally, Block Island Ferry offers a seasonal passenger ferry from Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI to the island. The ferry starts at the beginning of July and stops in mid-September. The crossing takes about two hours. On this ferry, dogs are welcome but must be leashed.

Block Island Express (call 401-466-2212) runs a seasonal high-speed passenger ferry from New London, CT to the island. The crossing takes about 75 minutes. The ferry starts in mid-May and stops at the end of September. BIE’s pet policy is as follows: “Pets allowed in approved pet carriers only! NO LEASHES!”

Viking Fleet (call 631-668-5700) runs a seasonal high-speed passenger ferry from Montauk Point on Long Island to the island. The crossing takes about an hour. The ferry starts in late May and stops in mid-October. A Viking Fleet customer service representative told me that dogs are allowed on board but they must be leashed and they must remain outside the passenger cabin. There is no fee for your dog.

New England Airlines (call 800-243-2460) offers year-round daily scheduled flights from Westerly, RI to Block Island, hourly in the summer and every couple of hours in the off-season. The crossing takes 12 minutes. NEA allows small dogs to travel on their owner’s lap (a carrier is suggested if the dog could nip). There is no fee for a small dog; a large dog that takes the place of a passenger must pay a passenger’s fare. Only one pet is allowed per flight.

What if my dog needs a vet?

Block Island Veterinary Services (Dr. Maryann Simonelli) offers vet services by house call, typically one or two days a week. Call 401-466-8500 to make an appointment.

In an emergency, call Block Island Veterinary Services (401-466-8500) to see if, by chance, they have a vet on the island. If not, you’ll have to take your dog back to the mainland by ferry, high-speed ferry or plane. Ocean State Veterinary Specialists is a 24-hour emergency care clinic located about 20 miles from the Point Judith ferry landing, at 1480 S. County Trail; East Greenwich, RI 02818 (call 401-886-6787).

What if my dog is lost?

Block Island Volunteers for Animals is located on Connecticut Avenue, but you need to call first before you arrive: 401-466-5303 (the phone will be answered by a machine, and a staff member will call you back) or 401-466-5343.

Before you go

Block Island is every bit as lovely as its more famous neighbors, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard — and like them, it has a lot of deer and deer ticks, and a high incidence of Lyme Disease. I strongly recommend that you talk to your vet about vaccinating your dog against Lyme Disease and dosing her with a tick repellant like Frontline Plus, even if you’re just planning a weekend trip to the island (and of course do a lot of tick checks while you’re there).

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport pet relief areas

MSP pet relief area

MSP pet relief area (Lindbergh Terminal)

To find the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) pet relief area for the Lindbergh Terminal, go to the baggage claim level and exit Door 1. Follow the orange signs, which lead you to a small, partially-fenced space lined with soft wood chips. There are poop bags and a bench for humans, and there are several rocks, positioned vertically to appeal to male dogs. It’s minimal, and really too small for more than one dog at a time, but I appreciated the bench.

[10/23/13 I just learned that MSP’s Lindbergh Terminal also has an air-side pet relief area. The airport doesn’t reveal its secret location (“To gain access to the pet relief area inside the secure area at Terminal 1, visit the Information Booth located near the entrance to Concourse E in the Airport Mall”), but it’s good to know it exists. If any of you visit it, please let me know what it’s like, and how long it takes to organize a visit to it for your dog!]

If you’re traveling on AirTran, Icelandair, Southwest or Sun Country, you’ll arrive instead at the Humphrey Terminal. According to MSP, “at the Humphrey Terminal travelers should use the grassy area just outside and to the right of Door 6 on Level 1 near Baggage Claim.” I’m not sure why they direct you to Door 6, when in fact Door 7 or the unnamed doors at the far end of the terminal are more convenient. At the baggage claim level, look for Door 7 (or Door 6, if you want to step outside sooner). Exit the building, turn right, and you’ll see a nice patch of grass at the end of the sidewalk (there are additional patches of grass across the airport roadway, but crossing the roadway is forbidden, and for good reason).

The Humphrey Terminal pet relief area, photographed on a visit in Spring 2011. The grass is just beginning to emerge from the snows of Winter 2010-11.

The Humphrey Terminal pet relief area is significantly nicer than the Lindbergh Terminal area, but it’s not trivial to get from one terminal to the other. It took Chloe and me a solid half hour on a quiet Sunday afternoon, and involved taking the airport tram, transferring to light rail and traveling one stop, and walking for quite a distance in the Humphrey Terminal garage.

This post is part of an ongoing series of reviews of airport pet relief areas we’ve visited. To see others, visit Dog Jaunt’s handy guide to airport pet relief areas.