SeeCalifornia.com

By C. MacDonald

This holiday season there are a lot of people finding out if they can bring their dog to a hotel. On the Internet, there are lists of “Pet Friendly” hotels, some of which make the pet as welcome as its owner–even offering special treats at check-in, pet menus, massages, baths and even drinks.

But that wasn’t always the case. Years ago, you usually had to write or call the hotel and often got turned down. My sister did manage to get permission for her well-behaved basset hound, “Clyde,” to stay at several establishments in San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Carmel and elsewhere but more times than not the answer was “No Pets!”

While visiting California 25 years ago, Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, author of “The Power of Positive Thinking,” told of similar problem his friend Harry had in getting lodging for a dog.

Having received several rejections, Harry kept writing requests until he finally found a hotel that allowed him to bring his canine, “Whiskers,” with him. He received this reply: “Dear Sir-By all means bring your dog Whiskers along. Dogs rate high in this hotel. Never have I had to eject an unruly dog in the middle of the night. Never has a dog gotten drunk and messed up my furniture. I have never had a dog go to sleep and set the mattress on fire with a lighted cigarette. Never has a dog made drinking glass rings on my dressers. I have never yet found a towel or ashtray in a dog’s suitcase. So bring your dog along. You can come too, if the dog will vouch for you!”

Here are some pet friendly beaches.