Like most dog owners, I would like to be able to take my dogs everywhere with me. While it's not as easy in the U.S. as it is in Europe or Australia, for instance, things are improving here. I have found an invaluable tool for finding pet friendly lodgings at the website www.petswelcome.com.

My first experience with the Pets Welcome organization was when I purchased one of their books (available in most book stores) during the year I lived in Boston. I had just returned from 2 years living overseas in Australia where I could take my Dachshund, Dave, everywhere with me. Well, not the really upscale restaurants, but most cafes and pubs. So when we returned to the U.S. I was determined to make every effort to take Dave with me as often as possible. I purchased the "Pets Welcome Northeast" issue and promptly found a great little resort on Cape Cod right in Hyannisport! It was a small group of cottages, all within walking distance of the beach. We went there many times during our year in Boston.

When we moved to Atlanta 5 years ago, one of my first purchases was the "Pets Welcome Southeast" issue. Using this book, I found cabins in the Georgia mountains, and condos on the Georgia seashore. And now with their web site, the information is even more easily available. Other accommodations I have rented using their information data base include hotels in San Francisco and vacation homes on St George Island, Florida. Rates and accommodations can range from cheap and basic to luxurious and expensive - the choice is up to you! Some operators require a pet deposit, others do not.

We recently returned from a long weekend in the Georgia mountains where we stayed in a lovely cabin right on the banks of a river. It was comfortable and peaceful, just what we were looking for. For my dogs (now two female Dachshunds) the trip was the equivalent of a trip to Disneyland! We went for walks and hikes each day, including a hike to a gorgeous waterfall in Fort Mountain State Park.

The search criteria on the web site is very thorough and intuitive. Your search for accommodations can be as broad as just the U.S. or Canada, or as specific as by lodging type, Bed & Breakfast, Vacation Rental or Cabins and Cottages, and location by city and state. Many of the listings include photographs, which I find important in making a selection. The site and the book also offer recommendations on nearby parks and restaurants that are pet friendly. Just for fun, check out the "Management" section of their web site - it's cute and funny and you can tell these are a group of people who are truly nuts about their pets - but in a good way!