He looks innocent enough ... but would you want to share a caravan park with him?
It seems that an increasing number of grey nomads are travelling with dogs, and that an increasing number of caravan parks and camping areas are seeking to cater to their needs … but it isn’t always plain sailing.
Moreton Bay Regional Council in Queensland has revealed that its dog-friendly trial at the Bongaree Caravan Park earlier this year has been given a resounding thumbs-down by the majority of guests.
The trial, which ran from February 1-March 24, was intended to see if the number of park users increased in that time, with the idea that – if it was a success – the council might amend caravan park rules across the region to be dog-friendly.
However, the Courier-Mail newspaper reports that a whopping 66% of visitors who expressed an opinion reported a negative experience and opposed a dog-friendly caravan park. The council has now scrapped the idea.
The council received 103 bookings with dogs in the trial period, and saw a 7% increase in bookings on the previous year. Of those bookings, five extra adults stayed at the park and 14 fewer children.
Councillor Brooke Savige told the Courier-Mail that problems associated with the trial included irresponsible owners, the mess created by dogs, and noise issues.
“People were washing dog bedding in communal washing machines and visitors had concerns about that,” she said. “And there was the rising liability of having dogs in the park and injuries that it could cause.”
However, while this dog trial was not deemed a success, the Courier-Mail reports that dog lovers could still be thrown a bone in the future.
“We’re not ruling it out forever,” said Cr Savige. “If we continue to get requests and if it’s a service they’re needing, then we’d happily revisit the issue.”
A petition against the dog trial attracted 85 signatures.
I have found that non dog owners can be very vocal against dog owners which is such a shame for all of us very responsible dog owners who want their pets with them. In all my years of travel I think I have only once come across a truly repulsive washer and that was due to a nappy.
Another caravan park to bye pass, no spending in town , free camp and not pay caravan park fees
I am against travelling pets, because some gray nomads insist on sharing their pet with everyone else and I am allergic to pet hair. This also means we have to carry our own washing machine, so I don’t break out in a rash. In Port Augusta we encountered a caravan that had 3 small dogs. Each day the owner would wash the pet beds, 1 in each machine. That’s when we decided to buy our own machine.
stay home we will all thank you for it
That ain’t happening. Obviously you are happy to have your clothes washed with dog and cat hair, I’m allergic so have to take precautions. My biggest problem, is people who let their dogs off the leash and tell me it’s ok the dog is friendly. That’s the problem, if it touches me, I end up with a red and itchy rash. Glen, I’m not saying don’t take your dog, I’m saying, don’t let it off the leash and don’t wash the dog’s bedding in communal washing machines. It is people like you that make camping uncomfortable, with no thought for anyone else. If you stay home, I will thank you for that.
No don’t stay home Waytra, they need to leave their pets home. I saw a camper trailer housing 2 adults, 3 kids, 3 dogs, acat & a bird…I ask you ??
Not your problem people can travel with what that want. Did you see them stop at carvan Park…….don’t judge.
That is excessive washing and also irresponsible.. I am a dog owner and I would not do that and would expect others would not as well
I agree Lynne with your comment .I to am a pet owner and I concider those who are not .I have seen a woman in a Laundromat not in a park wash her dirty wet dogs bed etc after a very damp week end camping .What annoyed me was she didn’t batter an eye lid when she walked of leaving the machine full of dog hair
Most dog friendly parks put up signs no washing dog bedding a suggestion worth using, also signs please pick up your dog poops, some also give free pooper bags. I do agree that some dog owners are very lazy,most you will see carrying bags. Parents of children also are neglectful the rubbish we as dog owners pick up from them leaving around are quite annoying.
I couldn’t agree more I also object to kids being left unsupervised while parents attend happy hour the noise and often abusive nature that these little angels exhibit in the absence of their parents leaves a lot to be desired
Another Council to drive through !
Dog friendly parks need to be proactively managed…you just can’t leave folk to their own devices. Clear rules, and enforcement, and so on. eg no washing of dog bedding in communal machines, and also they need to have a “dog section’ …a trial from Feb to March…huh? that’s not a trial, that’s just a token effort unfortunately. That park has had some re-development in recent times, and I’d be surprised if many people even knew about the trial. There are lots of very responsible dog owners who travel with their well cared for dogs. I’d rather stay at that park with responsible dog owners and friendly, well socialised dogs than irresponsible parents with unruly children…honestly.
We take our dog with us and are very responsible with control, pick up poo and take him on daily activities. I recently voiced my opinion on WikiCamps when a person complained about a caravan park because she could not leave her dog at campsite while the went on a wine tour. It is not their dog and would have enough other issues throughout the day. I get peeved when people do not do the right thing also. They spoil it for us great loving dog owners.
One of the reasons we avoid Bribie and the majority of the Moreton Bay council area is because of its blanket dog UN-friendly caravan parks and its no dogs on beaches – even on leashes. I find most dog owners are responsible but agree not all are. But there are far more irresponsible parents with uncontrolled children at parks we have stayed in than irresponsible dog owners. And far more risk of injury from bikes and scooters and skateboards than from dogs as most dogs are only small.
I have seen examples of large dogs being allowed to do what they wanted wherever – but only on one occasion over a long weekend at one NSW park. And there it was other more responsible dog owners that cleaned up – not the park or the dogs owners.
Quite happy to drive past. ..
How ridiculous to run a trial period for only that amount of time. Unless people travelling know about dog friendly parks in the planning of their holiday, places like this will of course not be used. Regarding complaints, they should be dealt with as they happen, not log every dog owner as an undesirable. The money Grey Nomads and anyone travelling with their pets bring into each town has risen remarkably, by closing your doors to pet owners, your community loses extra financial benefits. We travel with 5 dogs, who I might add are extremely well behaved, and have never had a complaint made against them. Don’t judge us all by a few.
Why all the focus on dogs. People travel with all sorts of pets, but when they advertise pet friendly, it’s always about dogs. We travel with our cat, she stays inside the van but does have a large metal cage to sit in while she is outdoors with us. This is for her protection against dog owners who do not keep their dogs leashed.
Good!
A lot of dog owners are like parents with noisy children. They seem oblivious to the noise they make.
And dare I say it after 10 years full time motorhoming we have come across a lot of people who use their pets as a means of socialising. They walk up and down the lines with their dogs looking for someone to talk to and soon have every dog in the park barking.
I am a great believer in having dog friendly sites away from people who don’t share they love of traveling with pets.
In conclusion we are not anti-pets, a lot of the house and property sits we do involve caring for pets, everything from snakes to pet mini pigs.
Another place for us to bypass in memory of our recently departed travelling companion “Gizmo” worse than dog poo is the non biodegradable / breakdown nappies that parents drop in the bins inside amenity blocks.
when you bypass Bribie Island travel onto Golden Beach holiday park very pet friendly, clean and very tidy, love it we are here now.
Pity but I doubt a 6 week trial was a committed effort to receive fair feedback. Another area to avoid spending money and by the looks of the caravan park and shops at Bongaree, an injection of pet friendly customers might give the area a much-needed cash bonus. I wonder how the local businesses feel about it or even if they were consulted. It’s well noted that grey nomads support local business when they are in the area. Such a shame that the whole run-down area is not thriving all year round but you do get the Council you vote for.
i agree with hunter.
When the rules are not enforced we all suffer. Management is always way to slack. I have two small dogs but am often surrounded by irresponsible dog owners who need to be ejected from the parks. Management or Ceretakers grow some balls and do your job.
A message to pet owners & parents of small children – “you may thing they are cute, but nobody else does.”
We tend to avoid dog friendly parks. Only reason is the barking. Every time we have stayed in one their has been a dog continually barking. I have nothing against a quiet dog who happily stays with his owners and causes no problems.
We stayed at a caravan park in South Australia a few years ago and they had a separate machine for pet use only, great!!!
Some laundry mats also have these for people to use for pets/ horse blankets only.
I shall spend my money elsewhere. Easy Peasy.
Love my dogs. Wont spend a cent in that place.
Is it the dogs or is it the owners to blame?
We once stayed in a Caravan Park in Townsville adjacent to three sites that had seven yapping dogs between them. Same thing owners seemed oblivious to the barking.
Another time in FNQ we were allocated a site where the previous tenent had two large dogs. The site stunk to high heaven and was
enough to make you gag.
The dog owners might have picked up the poop but most dogs just piss wherever they want and create a horrible smell for those not accustomed to dogs.
Traveling with five dogs would be like living in a boarding kennel.
Here here – they are Caravan Parks after all – not bloody boarding kennels
We stayed in a Caravan Park that had 3 adjoining sites that had 7 screaming kids. Parents were oblivious to the noise.
Kids left lolly papers everywhere.Parents chose not to see this.
Travelling with Kids would be like walking through a Sopping Centre with Kids out of Control. Wish they could be tied up and left outside.
Dog-free is good. Dogs are filthy and they destroy the peace and quite.
Not all dogs are filthy ,its the owners fault for the filthy animals .As is it the owners fault for excessive barking of the pet .
parks need to hold bond for dog owners and families with kids
, this would make them remember the rules and cover any mess and damage left behind. We paid bond in a park in Emerald and got it refunded. Any bad behaviour was noted and reported by staff and gardeners
We have fulltime travelled and stayed in various C parks for the last 2 years. I have never had a problem with dog owners, most are well behaved, and I rarely hear them. I have no issue with dogs, I think generally if the owners care enough to take them with them they usually care enough to have them well trained. The odd horror story does not make up the majority. By the way I do not own a dog but considering it.