Canine Paradise: St. Michael’s, Maryland
By: Joe Volz Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-09-16 13:36:00-04:00
The room service menu at the four-star hotel on Maryland’s Eastern Shore seems just the answer to a growling stomach after a traffic-clogged trip on the highway.
Lamb stew casserole, braised local beef, boneless chicken breast or an Angus beef burger are all available in sizes from 8 to 16 ounces.
And if your dog doesn’t like any of those selections, Chef Mark Salter will bake him a biscuit shaped like a bone, with a side order of dog chow, as part of the pampered pooch program.
At the Inn at Perry Cabin, an Orient Express hotel in St. Michael’s, the staff definitely believes in being “a dog’s best friend.”
Now, Brian Plaska, inn director of sales, doesn’t want anyone to get the impression that bowser receives better treatment than humans at the upscale hotel. Not at all. But Fido is not relegated to some dreary dog house, either. He stays right in his master’s room.
There is a gentle warning, though, as Helen and Richard May, of Weston, Conn., discovered when they received their page of instructions while checking in with their cocker spaniel, Godot, to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
The hotel wanted to make the point, as subtlety as possible, that not just any old mutt was welcome: “Please note that the pet program is limited to pets that are mature, well mannered, and unobtrusive in nature.”
But Plaska says that’s more of a formality than anything. He can’t remember when a dog was sent packing.
“The kind of guests that stay here have well-mannered pets,” he says.
Nevertheless, there is a $75 per stay fee per pet. Plaska says that the rooms are deep cleaned after the dogs visit.
He adds that the hotel loves dogs so much that he is thinking of recruiting a welcoming canine to greet new pets. But he insists that the Inn has no intention of turning the hotel into a posh kennel. The number of pets admitted at any one time is kept to a handful.
Unfortunately, says Plaska mournfully, pets are not allowed in the dining room or bar, unless you have a guide dog, because of pesky health codes. That’s a reason for room service, and of course, the hotel will be happy to pack a picnic lunch for Fido who is allowed to run around the grounds, although he is discouraged from swimming in the nearby Miles River for sanitary reasons.
Helen and Richard May say Godot loves the place. While Helen swims in the outdoor pool, Godot races her along the side.
“He enjoys being with us. We don’t like to leave him at home,” she says. Richard adds that they have always wanted to take a cabin cruiser trip down the Inland Waterway but the boat operators “said absolutely no dogs, so that is something we will not do.”
On a recent weekend, two of Godot’s buddies, Katrina and Boston Blackie, also were guests the inn. The Mays’ daughter, Margaret, and a friend, Sean Buchan, brought the dogs, which seemed to be having a good time. Katrina was excited about being interviewed, licking both the reporter’s hand and his tape recorder.
The Inn also holds an annual 100-yard race each fall for Jack Russell terriers. Some 50 dogs chase an artificial squirrel down the track on the front lawn.
By the way, Plaska, an ardent dog admirer, says smaller dogs in the 40 to 50 pound range, fit in better than big dogs.
As for cats, they are welcome, too, although guests sometimes are allergic.
“But I’m told that cats don’t like to travel that much, anyhow,” Plaska says.
Online Reseources:
Inn at Perry Cabin, www.perrycabin.com
Books:
Find these books online at www.BarnesandNoble.com.
Great Vacations for You and Your Dog, USA, 2003-2004
Martin Management Books, January 2003
Fodor’s Road Guide U. S. A.: Where to Stay with Your Pet
Fodor’s Travel Publications, Incorporated, June 2001.
The Portable Petswelcome.com: The Complete Guide to Traveling with Your Pet
By Fred N. Grayson, Chris Kingsley, Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, June 2001
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