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Source: Peter Van Harten, The Hamilton Spectator.
"Woof, woof, woof, ruff, ruff, wee, wee, wee."
"Right away, sir. We'll be right up with that."
It's the ultimate in pet pampering -- hotel room service. There are hotels and motels, including some in the Hamilton area, that try to cater to pet owners, but the downtown Holiday Inn in Toronto has gone one paw print further. In addition to designated, pet-friendly rooms, close to elevators for emergency outings, the Holiday Inn on King Street has introduced a "Give a Dog a Bone" room service menu of products and services.
Room 802: a leash and stoop and scoop bags -- rush, please. Room 601: play toys, food and water bowls and kibble. Room 403: needs a wee-wee pad. "A wee-wee pad looks like a big square diaper for the floor, two feet by two feet and well, you know ... for at night," explained guest service manger Kevin McFadden at the Holiday Inn in Toronto.
The Sheraton Hamilton and the Royal Connaught Howard Johnson Plaza hotels are known to accept pets, although they are not officially certified by the Pets Can Stay Canada accreditation and reservation service, said Scott Beddall of the service. "No elephants or cobras allowed, though," warned receptionists at the Royal Connaught. Sales and marketing manager Mike Evans at the Sheraton says a special bed, dishes and treats are provided but guests are asked not to leave the dog alone.
Pooch pampering has become the goal of a number of Hamilton businesses. There are several pet sitters, walkers, pet taxis and pet therapists. But it's Toronto's Holiday Inn, where general manager Marlin Keranen has put his dog on the hotel's website, that's considered pet crazy. The hotel provides special bone-shaped beds for pooches. It is the home of the Purina Animal Hall of Fame and its annual awards, and it's planning a pets gala for next spring with pet fashion shows, a Mother's Day brunch and trade fair exhibits. Travellers who bring their pets get an extra 1,000 bonus points in the chain's loyalty reward program. McFadden says one dog belonging to a regular visitor got so used to the routine that it stopped and then barked at the front desk to get the food treats it knew were always given out.
About 30 visitors brought their pets, primarily dogs, in August. Hotel security staff will remove a barking dog left in a room and take it with them on their patrols to keep it quiet so that it doesn't bother guests. "They leave a note," he said. "That's if they can get into the room without the dog ripping them apart." About 25 of the hotel's 425 rooms are designated for pets. McFadden assures that after each pet stay, the room is taken out of service so that carpets can be shampooed and the room cleaned throughout with disinfectant sprays. Linens are washed separately from that of other rooms. Beddall of Pets Can Stay Canada said the Holiday Inn in Toronto is the top rated and certified pet-friendly hotel in the country "and goes that extra mile." It stands out because, unlike some other hotels, it doesn't limit the size of the dogs that can stay and doesn't require an unreasonable deposit for extra cleaning. "Some hotels call themselves pet-friendly but want you to keep the dog chained up outside," he said.
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