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Visit BonzoBeans.com. And don’t forget, shipping is FREE!

There are more pets than people in the U.S. In fact, Americans own more pets than ever before. Approximately 62% of American households now own a pet, which is the highest level in recorded history. Approximately 78% of them are hitting the road and skies each year with their furry friends. This growing market has made itself known and the travel industry has responded as more and more accommodations across the U.S. are rolling out the red carpet for these traveling pets. To better understand the demands and habits of this booming market, TRIPSwithPETS.com conducted an online survey of pet travelers and the results are in!

When it comes to planning pet travel online, over 89% of the 2012 pet travelers polled indicated that they do indeed go online and browse the websites of pet friendly hotels. However, only 27% of respondents are comfortable booking their pet friendly accommodations online. Instead, most respondents prefer to research online then call to book their room so that they can alert the lodging that they are traveling with their pet. Even given the growing number of pet friendly accommodations, you may be surprised to find that 34% of respondents have at some point snuck their pet into accommodations during their travels. Aside from the lodging not being pet friendly, other reasons for the sneak-ins include; their pet was too big, the accommodation did not accept their type of pet, cost was too much extra for their pet.

Not all pet friendly accommodations are created equal and pet travelers are well aware of this. A whopping 86% of respondents reported that they actually compare pet amenities offered by accommodations when selecting where to stay. On the top of the list of preferred amenities is pet sitting services. Although most accommodations don’t offer these services themselves, they do provide guests with a directory of local pet sitters that will come to the lodging room to watch pet guests while their humans step out. Other preferred pet amenities that are at the top of discriminating pet travelers lists include; clean-up bags (23%) pet recreation listings (11%), in-room feed bowls (7%), and pet walking services (7%).

It appears that pet travelers are willing to pay for these special amenities. Over 90% of respondents would pay extra to accommodate their animal companions with most willing to pay up to $50 per night and some actually willing to pay over $50 extra per night for their pets.

It is apparent that people love to vacation with their pets and care a great deal about accommodating them. Eighty-eight percent of respondents have stayed at a pet friendly accommodation at least once in the past 2 years. And pet travelers aren’t afraid to venture far from home. Over 66% travel anywhere from 50 to 500 miles from home.

America’s love affair with their pets is evident in their habits and preferences when it comes to traveling with their furry and four-legged companions. Their mounting numbers and financial muscle is destined to continue to raise the bar when it comes to pet travel.

Some hotels just allow pets, but Choice Hotels® welcomes them. They understand that your pets are a part of the family and should not be left behind when you travel, so they encourage you to bring them along!

Wherever your destination may be, you’re sure to find a pet friendly Choice Hotel. Choice Hotels International is one of the largest and most successful lodging franchisors in the world – offering more than a thousand pet friendly lodging options in the U.S. alone. So pack the leash and the treats and enjoy a vacation with your four-legged family member at one of their pet friendly hotels today.

In addition to loving pets, Choice Hotels® also offer many terrific programs to make your travel experience a pleasant and more affordable one. These include the Best Internet Rate Guarantee, Kids Stay Free, Special Senior Discount, and many other programs. For program details and a complete listing, go to Choice Offers & Programs.

Choice Hotels® is the worldwide franchisor of Cambria Suites®, Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, MainStay Suites®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, Econo Lodge®, and Rodeway Inn® brand hotels.

Find a pet friendly Choice Hotel.

Customer service is going to the dogs at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, and the dogs love it! Pet travel just got a lot more fun since the airport recently opened an off-leash dog park for its thousands of canine customers each year.

The fully fenced facility features flowers, grass, rocks, benches and two original pieces of art to sniff and enjoy. Biodegradable bags for pet waste are available at the dog park to help meet the needs of this growing group of passengers.

“The dog park is a good step forward in serving our customers traveling with dogs,” said Kathryn Masters, Airside/Landside area manager and project manager for the dog park.

“I was delighted to find the new dog park at Hartsfield-Jackson. I appreciated having a place to stretch my legs before my flight,” said Ace, a 7-year-old black Lab from Decatur, GA.

The 1,000-square-foot dog park is part of the Ground Transportation center on the west end of the passenger terminal. The newly refurbished Ground Transportation center is the Airport’s central hub for taxicab and limousine service, hotel shuttles, parking shuttles, regional buses and the new ATL SkyTrain to the rental car center.

Only two dogs are allowed in the dog park at a time because of the area’s size, but Ace isn’t concerned. “This isn’t a destination sort of dog park. I’m in, I’m out, and I’m on my way.”

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest airport, serving more than 90 million passengers annually with nonstop service to 160 U.S. destinations and more than 90 international destinations in 55 countries.

With over 74.8 million dogs and 88.3 million cats living in households in the United States (source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey), it’s clear that our furry friends are much more than just “friends” – they are beloved members of our families. Routine examinations, shots, tick & flea prevention, and heart worm protection are the typical standard responsibilities of pet owners, but are you prepared if your dog or cat gets sick or hurt in an accident?

Today’s veterinary medicine is extremely sophisticated; many procedures and treatments are readily available to help your pet live a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, this advanced technology comes with a price that you may not be able to afford in the event of an emergency. Pet insurance can help alleviate any economic considerations that you would face when determining the best course of treatment for your loyal companion.

How Long Has Pet Insurance Been Around?

Pet insurance actually began in Sweden in 1924 when the first policy was written for a dog (source: trupanion.com). It wasn’t until 1982, however, that a pet insurance policy was written in the US for a very famous TV dog (pat yourself on the back if you guessed it was for Lassie). Since then, the number of pet policies in the US has grown at a rate of 18% between 2003 and 2008 (source: embracepetinsurance.com). Although pet insurance policies continue to gain popularity in the US, it is far more prevalent in Europe. Almost 20% of pet owners in the UK and 49% of pet owners in Sweden have some type of pet insurance (source: petinsurance.com).

How Much Does It Cost?

Just as there are different types of medical insurance for us, the same goes for our pets, so it’s important to shop around when looking for policies. For cats, the average monthly cost of insurance ranges from $15-$18 per month depending on age, while dog insurance typically ranges from $22-$28 per month depending on age and breed. Most policies have deductibles starting at $50, and co-pays are also required for routine care (source: costhelper.com). In most cases, pet insurance reimburses the owner after the pet has received care and the owner submits a claim to the insurance company.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

Although each pet insurance provider and policy is different, pets are generally covered for routine care (annual examinations, vaccinations, spay/neuter procedure, etc.), major medical expenses (serious injuries and illnesses, surgeries, hospital stays, etc), as well as cancer (chemotherapy, radiation, and post-treatment medications). It’s important to know that insurance typically does not cover pre-existing conditions, hereditary/breed defects, elective procedures, dog food, and grooming costs (source: pet-insurance-info.com).

How Do I Choose the Right Policy?

There are many considerations to make when choosing an insurance company that is right for your pet. First and foremost, read the fine print of each and every policy that you research very carefully. If your pet has a pre-existing condition or a hereditary issue, you need to make sure this isn’t excluded in the policy (there are some companies out there that will cover these situations). Different types of breeds may be charged higher premiums with certain insurance companies, and there may be age limits on coverage. It’s also very important to understand exactly what types of events and illnesses the policy will cover. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where your pet gets sick only to find out that your insurance company won’t pay for it (source: petinsurancereview.com).

Last, but certainly not least, take a look at your budget. Along with the monthly or annual premium, you’ll need to know what the deductibles and co-pays cost in order to select a policy that you can afford.

Where Can I Find Pet Insurance?

There are many companies in the US that offer pet insurance, so here are some of the major providers to get you started:

• Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI): This is the nation’s oldest pet insurance company and largest, with 71% of the market share. VPI provides a wide range of policies.
• Embrace Pet Insurance: This is one of the few companies that offers coverage for pre-existing conditions and breed-specific genetic conditions.
• PetCare Pet Insurance: Since 1998, PetCare has been offering policies in both the US and Canada and offers a variety of pet insurance products such as QuickCare and ShelterCare.
• Pet Assure: This company is not insurance, but rather a program that offers medical discounts within a network of veterinarians and pet health providers. It is open to all pets of all ages with any medical condition.

Pet owners often don’t anticipate the high costs associated with an unexpected illness or injury. Whether or not you’re thinking about getting a pet, or you already have one, set aside some time to look at your budget and compare insurance plans. Planning for the future by insuring your cat or dog can save you the heart-wrenching pain of not being able to pay for treatment down the road.