Now that we have our puggle , Oscar, we have to think about things like this. He will be going with us everywhere we go.
Most parks will have some form of pet regulations in effect to
ensure the campsite and area, fellow campers and your pet are safe and
happy.
Most people only bring either dogs or cats, a few bring
birds and some may even have an iguana or two but for now I am going to
focus on the dogs and cats.
1. Your pet must be on a leash at all times.
Your
dog or cat may not respond the same in a camping environment as they
would in your home. Just for instance, I had taken my cat camping and
had her on a leash beside the tent. The neighbor had a large poodle that
was running loose on their campsite. I had reminded them that dogs must
be leashed at all times and of course their reply was "my dog is not a
threat to anyone or anything".
Maybe 5 minutes later the poodle saw my
cat and the chase was on. Somehow the cat managed to get out of the
leash and the dog was in hot pursuit. All you could see was 2 black
streaks running flat out through the trees. Eventually the cat saw an
open tent door (which happened to be the neighbour's tent) and ran for
it. The owner saw the dog chasing it and thankfully got the tent door
closed before the dog got there. Needless to say - they kept the dog on a
leash after that.
Dogs in particular are quite nosy and like to
investigate anything that is new. Sometimes that new something is a
porcupine, a raccoon or a rattlesnake which is another good reason to
keep your pet on a leash. It is also very important to have a first aid
kit available just in case. The park attendants will know where to find a
vet if you need one.
2. Your pet is not allowed at any swimming area or on the beach.
A
lot of parks that have a beach may also have a pet exercise area with
water access. Pets and people sometimes don't make friends very well,
especially if you have a pet that is very protective of their family
unit. All those people make them very nervous and apt to strike out at
anyone or anything that is passing by. There is also the fact that some
people are allergic to pets.
3. Your pet must be kept under control
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| Survival Kit For Dogs |
Some
dogs become very vocal when their owners are not around or if they see
something they should be letting everyone in sight know about. This is
known as excessive noise and can be very disturbing to fellow campers.
Listening to a dog cry for hours because their owner has left them on
the campsite is not a pleasant experience for anyone, including the dog.
If you must leave your pet behind at the campsite, ensure they have
shade, water and food available and only leave them for a short time. If
you are going somewhere that you can't take your pet for a longer
period, some parks have pet-sitters close by that you could leave them
with. It is best to check with the park before you go if you know you
are going to be away for an extended period.
4. You must not let your pet disturb wildlife or habitat.
Some
dogs and cats like to chase things whether it is a ball, an animal or a
bird. Deer, chipmunks, squirrels, and birds are the favourite things
for pets to chase while camping. Again you must be able to control them
to ensure they don't chase anything.
The habitat on and around
your campsite is very delicate and when it is destroyed or damaged it
takes a long time to recover. Your best option is to have a steel stake
with a swivel top to attach your pet's leash to and not the trees or
brush around your site. Remember your leash must not extend off the
campsite and in most parks it may be limited to 2 metres or 6 feet.
5. Stoop and Scoop
This
is one of the joys of being a pet owner - you must clean up after them
whether you are at home or in a campground. It is not a pleasant thing
to encounter when you are walking barefoot to the beach or setting up a
campsite if the pet owner has not done their job properly. You would not
want someone to let their dog do his business on your lawn at home so
the same thing applies to campsites.
Following these few simple
rules will ensure that you, your pet and your fellow campers will have a
pleasant and enjoyable stay in any campground.
Rose Emerson is a lifelong camper and outdoors enthusiast with
over 20 years of working experience in Provincial Parks. Camping is an
ideal vacation experience and statistics show that more people than ever
are embracing the idea. Her website
http://www.campfunfacts.com
has all the basic equipment needed to start camping as well as lots of
information on places to go, things to do and what you need to know
before you go.
I actually stopped at a yard sale this morning and didn't find much, but there was a box of all of these rolled up maps that the old man was selling. There turned out to be over 100 maps showing a lot of detail of different places in each state. I talked to him for a while and come to find out all of the maps were his that he used while he camped and hiked all over the USA! It was really neat talking to him. I ended up standing there for about 30 minutes. I bought the whole lot of them for $8.00! A lot of the maps show where to camp and canoe in each state. All but 2 of them are laminated. They are older maps, like from the 1980's and 1990's , so I wonder how much use they are now? Do things change that much? Could they be good just for an idea of what is in certain area? Most of these maps are topographical. That could come in handy?? Oh well, for $8.00 if they are not useful, they are at least neat to look at. Could use for a wall treatment in a den. Who knows.
I have been prepping for over 10 years now and have had to use the preps a few times because of things happening to our family, that were emergencies to us. Lay-offs and more. We found out that our food stockpile was great. We had enough food to last the almost the whole time the first time hubby was laid-off and the the second time we were in even better shape. We sold items on ebay and other places to make money for our bills. Cut out a lot of needless things, like cable. Which we never did get back. But, I am starting to really rethink my idea on being prepared. Yes, we should have some stockpile of items, but we should learn how to do things for yourselves! That should be your first thought. After the food runs out can we get more on your own? Do you know how to garden? Fish? Hunt? Do you know how to cook the items that you get? Can you clean a fish or a squirrel? These are the things that everyone should be learning and you will always be self-sufficient. Learn how to repair household and vehicle mishaps. 
I Just realized this morning, that it has been a while since I have shared a recipe. So here is a new one. Great for summer.
