Should Pets Camp? Can You Keep Everyone Happy?

You love your pets and only want what's best for them. Unfortunately, that isn't always easy to ascertain, and there are as many different opinions about how you should properly care for your dogs and cats as there are breeds. Some people wouldn't dream of going anywhere that didn't also welcome them fur-baby with open arms. Others feel that their four-legged companion is most comfortable at home. For many, having the ability to bring their dog or cat is one of the reasons they travel in a motorhome in the first place. Others, however, view camping as a time to get away from their obligations and responsibilities, including Fido.

Related Read: RV Travel with Pets

How do you decide what's right for you and your pets? How do ensure that you're following local laws—which vary depending on state and municipality—and park regulations? With so many people ready to weigh in on your choices, is it even possible to keep your neighbors and everyone else happy? Consider the following:

What Do Pets Require?

Pets need what any warm-blooded living creature needs: food, water, and shelter from the elements. Those are the basic requirements to sustain life. In fact, pet owners have a legal obligation to provide these things.

You know, however, that your furry companion needs more than the bare minimum, and you typically—if not always—provide those additional "quality of life" requirements. These include a comfortable environment, exercise, entertainment, and love/companionship. When RVing, it's important to decide where your particular pet would best be able to receive everything he or she needs while you're traveling.

What Do Campers Require?

Although it may seem quite foreign to those individuals for whom Bowser is a beloved member of the family, but some campers detest it when you bring your dog to the campground. These campers prefer the quiet of nature and your dog may not only be a barker, but his scent will invariably scare away the wild animals that would otherwise grace the grounds. For these people, it is extremely important that you closely follow any and all park regulations regarding your pet, as well as some "common sense courtesy" to keep the peace with your neighbors.

Typical park rules include keeping pets on leashes so they don't stray into the campsites of others, keeping your dogs quiet so they don't bark incessantly, walking them in designated areas when specified, and—of course—picking up after them. If you see another pet owner disregarding the rules, contacting the park manager may be the best way to resolve the issue.

Should You Leave Them at Home?

According to some campers, all pets should be left behind while you camp. This ensures that they continue to enjoy the comfort of home and eliminates the stress of travel. A friend or neighbor could check on them, feed them, exercise them or take them on walks. This enables you to explore unfettered by your pets; not all areas are pet friendly, and that leaves pet owners struggling to care for their furry friend while still enjoying their trip.

Another option would be to board the animal while you travel. Depending on the pet, however, this might be a fun "summer camp" scenario with new friends or it could be extremely stressful and result in increased separation anxiety. It can also be costly.

Leaving Fluffy or Whiskers at home can be very stressful for the pet and/or the owner. Plus, what if your RV is your home?

Related Read: Bring Along Your BFF-Best Furry Friend

Should You Leave Them in the RV?

Whether you live full-time in your RV or merely choose to bring your pets along on your travels, there will be occasions where you are faced with the quandary of leaving them unattended in the RV or taking them with you. There are several factors to consider. Do they bark or whine when left alone? Do they "protest potty" in the space? Do they tear things up or try to escape by scratching at the screens on the windows or door? If they bark the entire time you're gone, are the neighbors going to complain?

Another aspect to consider is the environment itself. Anyone who has spent very much time in an RV knows that even shore power isn't infallible. If the air conditioner shuts off, malfunctions, or trips the breaker while you're gone, the temperatures can quickly soar to a level that's dangerous. Leaving the windows open isn't always an option, and depending on the location might not even help.

One way to ensure the temperature inside you RV stays comfortable for Fido is to use a remote security system that sends messages to your phone. You can set it up to monitor the temperature—or at least find out whether the power is still on—depending on the system. This affords you a bit of freedom.

Should You Take Them with You?

To keep a constant, vigilant eye on Frisky, some people choose to take her with them everywhere. Without addressing those who attempt to take their pooch into establishments that only allow service animals, suffice it to say there are many places that most people can't take their pet. Depending on the weather, though, you may not be able to leave it in the vehicle even with food, water, and ventilation. In fact, according to some people, you should never leave a pet unattended in a vehicle.

Additionally, in over 28 states, it is illegal to "confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death." This is open to interpretation. Plus, in a few states—based on the normal average temperature—and in several municipalities, it's never legal to leave a pet in a vehicle. Check animallawinfo.com to see which states have laws regulating pets left unattended in vehicles. Then do a quick online search or even contact City Hall to determine what the local laws are before planning to leave your pet even with adequate provisions and in the air-condition.

In Conclusion


Ultimately, as long as you're following all local rules and regulations pertaining to domestic animals, how you care for your pet is up to you. Generally, if the weather and temperature conditions are such that—if you had to remain in them for a while—you would be uncomfortable, you shouldn't leave your pet in them. It's impossible to make everyone happy, so as long as you are following your instincts and doing what you can to keep Fluffy happy, comfortable, and cared for, you should be able to enjoy your travels during the day and sleep soundly at night—and so should your neighbors.