Pet Friendly Policy
Questions about Pets at Queensberry Bay Holiday Park ...
Frequently Asked Questions (and answers) about our dog and pet friendly policies ... we've set out the questions we're asked most often – and our replies:
- Can I bring my pet?
- I have three dogs and you won't take my booking
- My dogs don't come in the house, can I bring a kennel?
- I have a ferret – can he come on holiday?
- The animals in pets corner don't look cared for
Can I bring my pet?
Cathy says: One of the reasons I love working here is that we're so pet friendly. I don't mean we carry miniature dogs around in our handbags and dress them up in ballerina outfits – I mean we care about animals.
Joanne says: Partly that comes from John. We call him the Doctor Doolittle of the caravan world. He has this magnetism that simply draws animals to him. He was a farmer after all.
Cathy says: It's lovely to see. And it's lovely when guests bring their pets on holiday and can't believe the freedom they're allowed here.
Joanne says: John and I always said that we wanted to be pet friendly. We didn't actually plan though to become an informal sanctuary for waifs and strays – but that's how it’s ended up!
As for dogs and cats – we welcome both on the park (subject of course to not allowing pets on the dangerous dogs list or known to have inter personal issues) and we welcome dogs into 2 of our letting units. The third is strictly pet free. We can’t take cats in letting units because of the increased effect of allergies for other guests and damage caused (usually by scratching).
Lauren says: I know some parks have a dog walking area. Where's ours?
Joanne says: It’s called the beach! No, seriously, we don't get hung up on walking areas or leads. Apart from the dangerous and anti-social dogs restriction we have some basic common sense rules:
- Pets must be kept under control (which can be a lead, or voice command or, in the case of our Labrador, a complete disregard for everything we say but a generally really happy and welcoming character with a very waggy tail . . .)
- Owners must clear up after their pets.
- Dogs may not be left alone in a unit or vehicle at any time.
- Dogs may not be left chained up outside your unit unless you are also sitting outside.
And the beach is a great place to explore. Our mongrel, Wombat, even takes new pets down to the shore to show them the ropes. Strange but true.
back to questions about dogs and pets ^
I have three dogs and you won’t take my booking
Cathy says:This is a hard one. As animal lovers we fully understand that you want your pack with you. But a large group of dogs can be intimidating to other park users - so we restrict it to 2 pets per pitch.
Lauren says:Yep – and we always get someone who insists their pets are different. And they’re only small dogs. And we won’t even know they’re here. Etc. etc.
Cathy says:And every time we flex a bit and give them the benefit of the doubt they turn up with three German Shepherds and a Chihuahua and we end up having to deal with more complaints than the dogs have had Chihuahuas for dinner.
Lauren says:Yeah – do you remember that woman that said she'd report us for not letting her bring on her 3 – 3 mark you! – St Bernard dogs as it was discrimination against big dogs?
Cathy says: Do you know – I'd forgotten that one! I do remember the woman who complained that John's dogs weren't on a lead and that Maddie had stolen her Great Dane's supper.
Lauren says: What happened?
Joanne says: It was all very embarrassing. Maddie had indeed stolen this Great Dane's supper. And his toys. And his supper dish. And his lead. It’s a Labrador thing.
Lauren says: So what did the woman do?
Joanne says: She was absolutely delighted and booked again – and is now a regular visitor. And every time she comes Maddie goes and gathers up all his things. And we return them on a daily basis. If you’re a dog lover you'll understand!
back to questions about dogs and pets ^
My dogs don’t come in the house – can i bring a kennel?
Cathy says: I can fully understand this – but the answer has to be no. Lots of people keep their pets in cages at night either inside or outside in the garden – but that's when they’re at home in familiar surroundings – you wouldn't want to do that to your faithful friend in a strange place.
Lauren says: I keep my dogs in a cage at night in the house – I’d never leave them outside!
Joanne says: More than anything it's about protecting your pet, surely? When you’re on a park you’re in a strange and public place. And your pet has to cope with that upheaval. In addition, you have a responsibility to your neighbours – and leaving the dog in a kennel in a strange place is not something we would tolerate. And no – it’s not discrimination against working dogs ....
back to questions about dogs and pets ^
I have a ferret – can he come on holiday?
Nicola says: You know – some years back I was covering for Pam cleaning a letting van ...
Pam says: What do you mean – "covering" for me?
Nicola says: I think you were on holiday.
Pam says: I never go on holiday.
Cathy says: You did once – but you maybe don't remember it ...
Pam says: Oh yeah ...
Nicola says: Right – so I was covering for Pam and when I was cleaning the twin room I came across some droppings under the bed and a bag of rat food!
Cathy says: Never!
Nicola says: I did. I even showed it to Joanne.
Joanne says: Nicola's right – someone did have a pet rat in one of our letting units once – but that was years ago when we let via Hoseasons. However, it made us change our rules so now you can bring dogs (max 2) into our pet letting units but no other pets. That includes cats, budgies, canaries, parrots, guinea pigs, ferrets, lesser spotted falcons and anything else that isn't spelt "D O G".
Cathy says: I hadn't realised quite how harmful birds and cats can be to someone who has asthma.
Joanne says: Do you know – one of our rescue cats has asthma!
Cathy says: That could only happen to you!
Nicola says: So what's the answer then?
Lauren says: No – you can't have a pet ferret in our units. If you're in your own unit and your ferret is in a cage or otherwise restrained then they can come on holiday with you. That includes cats – but don't forget that we’re near the beach and it can take a while for cats to become acclimatised.
If your pet is allowed out onto the park in any form they must be under control and there will be a pet charge to pay.
Pauline says : Do you remember that time when a couple booked into a letting unit and they had a monkey with them? Wearing a hat.
Joanne says: Pauline – we've discussed this a dozen times. Yes – I do remember. You insisted it was a monkey. I went tearing off down the park to evict them only to find that it wasn't a monkey. It was their granny. Wearing a hat. And you've had your cataracts done since then ...
back to questions about dogs and pets ^
the animals in pets corner don't look cared for
Pam says: Now this really does my head in! John and Joanne take in and care for all these stray and abused animals at their own expense – and then get grief from people because the ponies "can’t walk properly" or – last year – because the horses’ coats weren't "clean".
Joanne says: I know it’s disheartening when you’re doing your very best – but I’d rather someone called the SSPCA and they came and checked up because there are people out there who do harm animals. Ask some of our animals – they've been there (before they came here of course!).
Cathy says: But it isn't right. Why can’t people mind their own business?
Lauren says: I actually agree with Joanne. It’s best to be open about things. Together with the farrier Ross and Paul the vet we look after three severely laminitic ponies, llamas who’d been beaten, a horse (Tim) with arthritis that was thrown out because he couldn't work anymore, another pony (Anja) that was thrown out because she’d grown too old to breed, emus (Brenda and Shirley) who had nowhere else to go, sheep (Barbara and Loretta) who were on their way to the butcher’s shop because they weren't in lamb – and they've all been given the chance of a decent life here. Sometimes we have to manage that with the vet and with all manner of treatments. And some days they do look really poorly. But they are always well cared for.
Joanne says: Thanks for that Lauren. It’s a fact. None of the animals will ever make the show ring. And we don’t groom them to within an inch of their lives because sometimes it’s not right for them. And we let the horses roll – which they love and which makes them absolutely filthy! But each and every one of them is cared for and allowed to live what remains of their lives in a good and loving place. And they all adore the attention of visitors. It’s remarkable how the donkeys for example get really bad tempered once the park shuts and no-one new is coming to see them!
Nicola says: My two kids adore the animals. Where else can you go and see llamas and highland cattle and ponies and alpacas without having to pay?
Joanne says: That’s important though – you don’t have to pay because these aren't show animals. They're animals in care if you like – who happen to love attention. I think that’s the John effect though!
Lauren says: And everyone loves Eric’s scrapbook. Kids use it to spot the animals and adults use it to laugh and the jokes.
