Vacations Dogs Can Go On – We all love the idea of hiking in the mountains with our dog or going on vacation with our pet, but before you do, make sure you know what to expect when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park with your pet.
More than 60 percent of households in the United States have dogs. For many families, dogs are not only great companions, but also part of the family. They are involved in a large part of our lives, and if we treat them well, we regularly take them out into the natural world for walks. So it can be strange to visit a place where you will spend time playing among the beauty of nature, but you are not allowed to bring your dog – something you know they will love. Many find the park’s dog restrictions inconvenient or confusing. So, I want to explain why these restrictions exist.
Vacations Dogs Can Go On
It is important to remember that Rocky Mountain National Park is a wilderness home to coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, great horned owls and other creatures. Each of them may see your pet as prey. On the other side of the coin, dogs are carnivores. Even though they are domesticated, they still have the instinct to chase and bark at other animals, be it rabbits, deer, squirrels, etc. The park is meant to be a place where these animals can live in peace without disturbing them from the outside. Dogs also leave behind a “predator” odor that can linger and disturb the native animals that this park protects.
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Feces from domestic dogs can transmit diseases to which wild animals are susceptible. Dogs do not eat food from this ecosystem and leave behind foreign bacteria and parasites. Just one gram of feces can contain twenty-three million bacteria and the same number of parasites. If some of the nearly five million visitors bring their dogs along the park’s trails, the amount of uncollected litter will be significant. It will enter water systems and spread to wildlife parks. If you have time, I recommend this interesting article on the environmental impact of dog waste.
There is also a concern that some pets may dig or trample the delicate plants. They can scare people who are uncomfortable around dogs, and they can interfere with their barking, although it can be funny. The park is designed as a place where we can see nature in its most natural and calm state. Following the rules helps keep it that way.
The park allows service animals that have undergone personal training to perform specific tasks for the benefit of people with disabilities. Emotional support/care animals are not service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act and therefore are not allowed on park trails.
If you have a dog on vacation with you, there are several routes you can take close to the national park. Here is a list of some of those places: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/pets.htm
Options For Leaving Your Dog Behind When You Go On Vacation
Although dogs are not allowed on the national park trails, you are allowed to walk your dog in picnic areas, parking lots, and park roads. In the off-season — the time before or after peak periods — some roads in Rockies National Park are closed to vehicles but open to leashed pets. Check with a ranger at one of the visitor centers to see if you are visiting at this time.
If you need to bring your pet with you, Estes Park has several boarding options for daycare or overnight care. Here are some things you can keep in mind:
