Port Aransas and Dogs

[lonestarace]

We finally got our Monaco ready to roll, so DW started calling rv parks in Port Aransas, TX. We were unpleasantly surprised to find that all but one rv park, Marina Beach RV Park, had bans against Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Dobies, Chows, Wolf Hybrids or any mix breed that kinda looks like any of these breeds. Tropic Island RV Park has even banned any dog over 20 lbs. Some allow only 2 dogs of any size! IMNSHO these folks are shooting themselves in the foot.

The reason I and many many other folks have a motorhome is because hotels and airlines aren't pet friendly. I flew business jets until I retired. A lot of our passengers spent the extra $$$ flying with us because we were dog friendly, while the airlines weren't.

Back a few yrs ago when I was single, I competed all over the country with my Rottweiler & Greater Swiss Mtn Dog at herding, agility, obedience, & draft work. I've put over 100,000 miles on various motorhomes traveling with my dogs, and until this week I've only come across one park that discriminated against certain breeds.

We really enjoyed our stay at big dog and big rig friendly Marina Beach RV Resort. http://www.mbrvresort.com/ All the roads and campsite pads are clean and made from well layed concrete. No black-top or dirt anywhere! Where the concrete ends, nice lush grass begins. There is plenty of well cared for grass for dog walking around the perimeter of the park. We enjoyed visiting with other large and small dog owners.

I've been going to Port A all my life. When I was a child, my parents would take us camping on the beach and later owned a 2nd home there for many years. Some of my fondest memories were made in Port A with my 2 and 4 legged family and friends.

I hope the RV parks that discriminate get a clue soon.

We hope this helps

Don, Lisa, Alexa,
Dogs: Snoop(the evil Rottweiler), Sister(GSMD), Bandit(Boston)

[bdpreece]

Funny thing is every time I have been bitten by a dog it has been one of those little ankle biters. The last one to draw blood was a Yorkie. A few days ago I was standing in front of my house talking to my neighbor who was out walking her Scottie when with no warning he chomped down on the end of my tennis shoe. No bark no growl nothing.

[smlranger]

I work in a hospital and several of my areas use therapy dogs on a regular basis. One of the best, most gentle and sweetest therapy dogs in the bunch is a rottweiler.

When I can't take my dogs with me, I will stop going.

[geeksrus]

I praise RV Parks that have restrictions on the number and/or size and/or certain breeds. I am tired of yappy & out-of-control dogs spoiling my RV lifestyle,

Eh!

[whem2fish]

i have a white german shepherd and a great perimeese (large sheepdag a lap dog) im single they go every time i take the class a i agree every time i was bitten reading gas meters it was a small dog
dave

[Norm4015]

Some observations on three recent RV parks where we have stayed. One was a large resort and the owners (a nice on-site couple) told us 60% of their complaints are about dogs. After talking to other park owners they have decided to go "dog free" next year. They said they will lose some of their regular customers, but they are fed up with their phone ringing day and night about dogs.

The second park gives everyone when they register the phone number of Animal Control which is less than two miles from the park. They tell campers if they see a dog staked outside or a noisy dog to call Animal Control. By the door of the office they had a bulletin board that listed: "Total complaints filed with Animal Control this year - 7. Total citations issued this year - 5." The campground managers said this sure cut down on the dog complaints.

The third park gave us a list of rules when we checked in and under dogs it said. "We welcome dogs, but keep your dog on your campsite. Do not walk your dog around other campsites or common areas." When campers left their site was inspected and if dog poop had not been picked up they knew who left it.

[whem2fish]

i have to agree i have seen a lot of people that dont use good judgement my 2 dogs might bark a little if i cant get them quiet its because im not spending enough time with them if necessary we go inside rv and chill
dave

[mick]

How many people have been KILLED and MAULED TO DEATH by little yappers? How many have been killed or mauled by the banned ones?

Lot of difference in being bitten by a Dobie, Roth, Shepard etc, than a 20 lbs yapper.

If my yapper makes your mad and bites it, it is a bite. If you dog big dog bites my yapper , he is dead.

[Lorna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick ... If my yapper makes your mad and bites it, it is a bite. If you dog big dog bites my yapper, he is dead.

Sorry, but I had to laugh at that....
Many years ago (early 1970's), a friend's mother had a Chihuahua. It was a typical, nasty, ill tempered animal. (before anyone starts up... every Chihuahua I've run into was mean... except those terribly tiny ones... they just shake). Well this one had the added bonus in that my friend & his brother encouraged the dog's anti social behavior. And, boys being boys, thought it was great fun for the little dog to go after dogs larger than itself, which was pretty much every dog in the neighborhood. Another boy, who lived just outside of our neighborhood, had a full-size German Shepard. This dog had bitten 3 people we knew of and would attack any dog it saw. The dog was normally tied up but at times it got loose. One day the German Shepard was cruising thru the neighborhood while a group of us were sitting under a tree. The nasty little Chihuahua saw the German Shepard and decided to attack it. We all figured the little dog was dead and my friends immediately jumped up because they really did love the little mutt. They couldn't reach the dogs before the worst of the damage had been done. If I hadn't of seen it myself, I wouldn't have believed it. That nasty little mutt attacked the German Shepard from below. What the little dog went for was the big dog's.... lets just say, the German Shepard had to be put down. The German Shepard never touched the little dog. It all happened so fast.


Personally I feel if a park is going to ban large breed dogs, they should ban ALL dogs. Regardless of breed or size. An aggressive dog is dangerous, regardless of the size. I've known someone who was attacked by an "ankle biter" and required years of physical therapy to regain the ability to walk almost normally. She will always have a limp where the toy poodle destroyed the muscles in her ankle and knee. At the time of the attack, she was a top player on the school's tennis team and hoping for a scholarship.

[RickO]

Full timing with our three dogs (15 to 23lbs) we have some experience with this. Until I neared retirement, I had only large dogs all my life ranging from Shepherds to Standard Poodles to Great Danes. I have also had the misfortune of seeing first hand, Pit Bulls at their worst... completely the fault of the owner BTW.

What I haven't seen in this thread yet is reference to restrictions put on park owners by their insurance companies. I believe it has become very common for them to restrict breeds/size of dogs due to their (perceived) liability.

[mick]

Rick, that was what my post was meant to tell. The payoff for death by mauling, is a whole lot more than a doctors visit.