Pondy wrote:

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You are so right I would not stay there either if I had to pay for my dog. I am also happy to pay a bond that you get back when you leave but $6.00 a night for my dog NO WAY.

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 Unless they provide facilities for the dog!

 

The east Devonport big 4 have never had dogs, but lately friends coming from Aus and were told they could have their dog, only to find when they arrived it was going to cost them $6 a night and given a list of rules they and the dog had to adhere to. They turned around, drove down the road to the other van park and were nicely welcomed, dogs free and happy to have them.

With the big shift to free camping, CPs need to rethink their business in order to stay viable. Like every business they need to offer a product that people want to pay for. Mostly they are catering to the family market, offering kids play areas etc.
This leaves the older travelling consumer with nothing, unless they travel with children.

What I want as an older traveller, is not childrens play areas, or games rooms, or a swimming pool full of kids.

I would pay for facilities for the dogs- where I can wash them, wash their beds, exercise them or have them babysat while I go out for a while.

In my humble opinion, if they don't offer what I want or need, they aren't getting my money.

Why should I shoot you, John?

I cant use the CP facilities to wash dogs or their blankets, but I would pay for it.

But, as a business, CPs could provide a tub and plumb in hot and cold water and a fence around it. That's enough for a dog wash. Add a clothes line and dog owners could wash the blankets and hang them to dry.

Now, in terms of investment, $500 - $1000 or so would be all it would take.

If the CPs dont want to cater for the needs of travellers with dogs, so be it, but given the opposition to free camps and the lobbying of local CP owners, I think they might.

and that is a park where you want to come back to Darrell

we will keep their address handy for the future
thanks Darrell


btw How is the damper baking going ??


Cheers John

-- Edited by Cruising Cruze on Friday 10th of January 2014 05:57:21 PM

Only done a few in the Baby Q, John. Too hot to light a fire (perhaps too lazy, lol) since we left Waruma. Baby Q does a great job provided I use the pizza stone. I was told last night by a local in the tourism industry that this park was ranked in Australia's top 20. Certainly as far as value for money is concerned, I'd believe it.

Darrell

dorian wrote:

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Let's be honest. Dogs are a nuisance, as are their owners. And I say that as a dog owner myself.

Caravan parks don't welcome dogs. They tolerate them. And they only do that if they can't fill their vacancies without them. In that respect caravan parks are no different than other businesses. In fact there are some parks that will allow dogs during the off season, but will refuse them during holiday periods.

Pick a business, any business, and complain to them about not accepting your dog. See how far you get. In fact, how many renters are permitted to have pets on the premises?

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Some parks have gone all out and made them like Resorts that's why, if I want a holiday in a Resort I will go o/s and if I want a holiday in C/Park I will go where my baby is allowed in, theres plenty who accept animals now, you just have to do your home work before going, then every ones happy.

tarnell wrote:

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All the caravan parks in Mt Gambier accept dogs except the Blue Lake Caravan Park, I stayed at the Limestone Coast Caravan Park, no fee for the dogs and they have the most fabulous dog free area I have ever seen and I have seen a lot of free area for dogs, not a patch on this one.

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Thanks , we will be going on the Long weekend and  knowing they have a great area for the dogs certainly helps plus don't have to pay extra. The Big 4 does charge for dogs, ask them to give you a break down of their fee, its only because I asked a couple of times then they admitted they do charge extra for your pet, then I told them what I thought about charging for them. It has taught me to ask each time I make a booking, other wise you just get a fee which they have already put in the dog/animal .

Don't know where these Park owners/managers come from they are the ones missing out as once we know about these parks we wont be stopping in their towns, every body else misses out. I wonder what they will do , the younger generation with kids, animals are taking up caravanning are they going to refuse entry into parks when they take their pets, can see the Parks going down the gurgler, people losing jobs so they wont be able to travel as much, may be not at all, so the Parks need to reconsider their policies, and properbly be to late then. Stayed at a couple parks recently and the managers said themselves they are starting to feel it along with other parks, these parks are National wide , so just maybe they are starting to feel the pinch now. I say if they don't accept your animals just keep going, theres always some where to stay at night.

I remember some time back having a conversation with a CP manager re the park being "dog friendly".

His view was that it was becoming too hard to weed out the responsible pet owners from the "ferals". He quoted an instance of a fellow who left the dog tied ip all day while he was away. However, it was summer, and hot, so the dog dug a hole to help it keep cool.... The CP owner was angry that the grass, which he watered to keep green, was damaged. Not only did the fellow refuse to pay for the damage, but was extremely angry when evicted from the park.

This was only one of quite a few stories he told.

Hi Rosie, thanks for that and I do agree with what you say! We were just this week at a park where a dog was left tied up while his people went out for Dinner or whatever - he was very distressed and howled miserably for the few hours they were not there. The CP manager went to visit him, but he was not having that!! No grass for him to dig up as it's pretty dry in Vic at present! 

Marnie

Marnie wrote:

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Hi Rosie, thanks for that and I do agree with what you say! We were just this week at a park where a dog was left tied up while his people went out for Dinner or whatever - he was very distressed and howled miserably for the few hours they were not there. The CP manager went to visit him, but he was not having that!! No grass for him to dig up as it's pretty dry in Vic at present! 

Marnie

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That's the problem, you always find some MORONS, its against the law to leave animals unattended in cars/vans etc, if I every came across this  myself I would personally ring the Police Station where ever I am, wouldn't think twice about it, and let the owner put up with whats dished out to them.They are like children, look after them and that includes not leaving them tied up,  They should try lying down with a rope around their neck in all weather conditions,.

_wombat_ wrote:

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native pepper wrote:

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The east Devonport big 4 have never had dogs, but lately friends coming from Aus and were told they could have their dog, only to find when they arrived it was going to cost them $6 a night and given a list of rules they and the dog had to adhere to. They turned around, drove down the road to the other van park and were nicely welcomed, dogs free and happy to have them.

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 just tell them that your dog can't read 

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They won't take Wombat either because he won't pay the extra $6 (being a Wombat).....    

I asked one park last year about having my dog there, he said "the dog is welcome and if it vouches for you then you are welcome too!"

Dogs don't steal towels, toilet paper, mats etc.

A couple years ago we travelled from Adelaide to Toowoomba to pick up a van to tow back to Perth, we stayed every night in motels/hotels and every one of them had no problem with having our dog in the room.  This quite surprised us actually but I guess they appreciated the income regardless.