Dog Friendly Accommodation. Health Rules

[Redcourt]

Does anyone actually know what the "Health Department" regulations actually are? Some accommodation venues say dogs are not allowed in rooms/cabins because of these "rules". Other places allow pets in the rooms so I am unclear about what really are the "health regulations".

Edited January 7, 2011 by Redskyes

[Redcourt]

Does anyone actually know what the "Health Department" regulations actually are? Some accommodation venues say dogs are not allowed in rooms/cabins because of these "rules". Other places allow pets in the rooms so I am unclear about what really are the "health regulations".

I have not had any response to this question. Maybe someone might have some ideas as to where I could find out about these "health regulations"

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I found something in the parramatta council rules for dogs and cats that says they're not allowed in food prep or consumption areas (does that mean they're not allowed in the park with you if you have a picnic).

guide dogs are allowed everywhere.

I also know of several places in NSW that allow dogs in the accommodation (eg cabins etc). So there can't be a law against that.

I found something else that said pets may be allowed in public housing as pets are important to their owners.

And with "pets as therapy" dogs going into nursing homes, and the health outcomes being better for people who have pet visit than those who don't...

I couldn't find anything on the law link that says that dogs are not allowed in commercial accommodation. But that could be I did the wrong search.

There is probably something to providing a safe work place for cleaning staff etc of hotels - and dogs might make that difficult if they're aggressive or crap inside a bedroom (dog poo is an OH&S hazard). Or if a cleaning staff member is allergic to dog hair - or subsequent patron.

So I think accomodation places are allowed to make their own rules regarding pets - but they're not allowed to exclude guide dogs with their owners (stop disability discrimination law).

Edited January 7, 2011 by Mrs Rusty Bucket

[wuffles]

Good question, I'd be interested in the answer too. We recently returned from a holiday with our dogs. We found some places that were happy to have dogs anywhere, some just don't let them on furniture/beds, some say they need to be outside or confined to a certain room of the house and quite a few told me dogs weren't allowed inside due to health regulations.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

due to health regulations

I'd be really tempted to ask them what the name of the health regulation was and did they have a copy of it so you could read it, and how it applies to guide dogs.

We're in far more danger, healthwise, from other humans than we are from dogs. Eg the staff and previous patrons are more dangerous than dogs.

[wuffles]

I've done a quick search but can't find any of the regulations

One of the places we stayed at had a section in their compendium that said no pets allowed in rooms due to health regulations, yet they advertise as pet friendly and were happy to let us have our two in the room (she even said "if they want to use the spare bed go ahead, just put a blanket or something over it" ). She did say it was their "doggie" room so I assume they just use that particular room for guests with pets. All the pet friendly places we've stayed at have been clean and none of them smell.

I don't mind them saying "we don't allow dogs" but I do get a bit annoyed with this health regulation stuff ;)

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

We offer accommodation in our "American Barn", and whilst we welcome dogs they are NOT allowed inside.

Whilst we don't quote for "heatlh reasons" as we have NOT found the applicable regulations, some issues we have include:

Dog dander- some people are allergic to dog hair.

Doggy smell- certain breeds of dogs have a particular doggy smell.

Can one draw the line between puppies, entire dogs who may lift their legs inside, dogs on the beds with their owners?, all of which leads to considerable additional expense in having all bedding etc cleaned before the next guests are expected. Sometimes the turn around between guests can be less than 24 hours. We don't use a laundry facility but do all our own washing/cleaning etc, to help defray costs.

Our dogs (8) are all house dogs, but if we are away showing and stay at a motel that states "NO DOGS INSIDE" then we abide by their rules.

http://www.woodfordfarmstay.com/

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I like the accommodation places who make their decision based on meeting your dog.

If I left Frosty outside all night she'd bark - though she doesn't mind the big landcrusier as a crate. I've done that when staying with friends who are allergic.

Are dog owners less responsible than parents of small children or drunken adults when it comes to mess and accidents. I know one bloke who, in a single effort, made more mess in his hotel ensuite and a bit outside - than any dog could hope to do. And just to prove how really putrid he was - he then recorded it with his phone camera and showed everybody else - argh.

And I find I have trouble sleeping in a room that has been occupied or cleaned by a smoker. Never mind smelly dogs.

Could accomodation places have the same rules for everybody? Ie you make more mess or damage than a normal sleeping person would that requires additional cleaning attention and expense - then you pay for that? Then it wouldn't matter who or what did it, adult, child or pet.

And as for being allegic - how do you deal with people who are allergic to peanuts or some colognes or jasmine flowers or similar and a previous patron leaves those in the room? If the room was cleaned between patrons and bedding washed and aired - wouldn't that sort dog dander problems? What about human skin and dust mites - heaps of people are allergic to that (gives them asthma). If accomodation places were serious about being friendly to people with allergies - they wouldn't have any wall to wall carpet.

Hesapandabear - I'm not picking on you in particular, I'm just questioning how likely is the dog allergy problem vs dust mites from humans problem etc. People are allergic to all sorts of things - why pick on dogs? And I do think people should be responsible for any mess they make in their accomodation that is beyond what is normal - no matter what made it. It just doesn't seem logical to me. But I don't run a farm stay - so I don't know how bad dogs are compared to humans really. I do know some of the accomodation I've stayed in that has no dogs allowed can still be really foul - my main problem is smokers - even if they don't smoke in the room, they still leave a smell.

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

This is a hard question to answer, MRB.

Our "American Barn" is all tiled, so we should not have too many problems re mites, dander etc. from dogs, or humans.

Scenario here:

Our very first guests were a couple with two teenage daughters. Mum and Dad slept in our "Barn" whilst the "girls" were in the Granny Flat. (Fully S/C). When they left I had to contend with red wine stains on the duvet/duvet cover, (from Mum and Dad) NOT a good start. :D

We have had a couple of other families stay (with children under 10) and their behaviour has been exemplary.

Then one other "family" where it was a divorced Mum with her two girls 12 and 14, and Mum's parents and they were totally FERAL :D The accommodation was an absolute pigsty when they left, as was our self-contained Granny Flat where her parents were accommodated. (supposedly "professional couples")

We are in Woodford QLD and have rented out our accommodation to a couple who stayed during the Woodford Folk Festival Dec-Jan 2009/2010. By all accounts WFF goers have a bad name for being feral, but we could NOT have had better guests. During the first "Splendours In the Grass" held here in July 2010, we had x2 couples in the "Barn" and one couple in the Granny Flat and they were all awesome in respect of tidiness. NO problems re being drunk and irresponsible.

Where do we draw the line?.

[Bokezu]

I can remember reading an explanation from a dog friendly accomodation once stating after each persons stay with a dog they have to by law have the whole room professionally cleaned and carpet cleaned as well.

I have also read on a blurb from another place that dogs are not allowed in the rooms because of health regulations..so unclear as well what the actual health regulations are, but think its the first one re cleaning.

[The Ark]

One would assume that "professionally cleaned" would be covered by the normal cleaning staff employed at, say, a caravan/cabin park?

We stayed at one place near Port Macquarie which let us have dogs in the cabin, and all they asked was an additional $20 cleaning fee - presumably this was so that their regular "professional cleaners" could spend a bit more time going over it.

I think it may well just be a cop-out! :D I understand people not wanting pets inside, but just be honest about the reasons and don't quote some vague "regulations".

[Redcourt]

Thanks everyone fore your comments and advice.

[Mathilda's Mum]

Check out this place - (I know it's not in Australia - pity !!!)

http://www.lhermitagevancouver.com/default...amp;rp=extended

Now that's what I call dog friendly !!!! ;)

[mirawee]

We stayed in a short stay rental in Moonee Ponds to attend a dog show with an adult dog and a 4 month old pup, both long coated dogs. The owner was happy to have the dogs inside as long as they weren't on the furniture although did take an additional "pet bond" in case extra cleaning was required due to the dogs. The report we got when they inspected after we left was that they wished everyone left the house that tidy and so fully refunded our bond ;)

I have never seen "Health Regulations" being given as the reason why dogs are not allowed though. In fact I don't think I have ever seen a reason being given!