Jennifer A. Huber is Saturday Morning Magazine’s guest blogger for December, 2018. Welcome, Jennifer! We love how adopting a dog lead you to new adventures. Both the story and photos are by Jennifer A. Huber/ SoloTravelGirl.com
A traveling pet parent tells her story
I gasped at the beauty of the full moon rising above the palm trees. Following a late campfire dinner, my traveling companion and I walked the moonlit Flamingo Campground in Everglades National Park while listening to Mother Nature’s symphony of insects and nocturnal birds and inhaling the sweet scent of the blooming white moonflowers. These vine flowers begin to open in late afternoon and bloom all night. Their intoxicating scent reminds me of a combination of jasmine and orange blossoms.
The setting was perfect for a romantic evening but with a large exception. My male traveling companion was not human but my dog Radcliff. He is my faithful mate both on and off the road. Chances are slim I would be harmed while camping alone and that night, I slept peacefully knowing my protector was at my side
“You travel too much to have a dog!” people told me when I announced I was adopting a cuddly canine to join my clowder.
Yes, I do travel too much but why should that exclude me from the joys of adopting a hound? People with dogs travel all the time, either with or without them, and knew I could be one of those traveling pet-parents.
For almost a decade I have been traveling under the persona of Solo Travel Girl, celebrating the empowerment and joys of traveling alone, not lonely. My travels have taken me around the world to places as Thailand, Vietnam, and Germany. Being single means when heading out on a spontaneous weekend getaway, I simply leave out extra food and water for my two cats and know everything will be okay.
Adopting a dog leads to new adventures
My life changed more than two years ago when I was browsing Facebook. Several clicks later, I landed on a page for a dog rescue group for a Central Florida high-kill shelter.
“Don’t look. Don’t look.” I told myself, but I continued reading how half-a-dozen dogs had about 10 days to live unless they found their forever homes.
A white dog with black spots who reminds me of Nipper, the RCA dog, caught my eye. Not too small and not too big, he looked to be the perfect size for traveling and knew he needed to be part of my family. It was Radcliff.
However, there was an obstacle. I was heading out of town and was not able to meet him before the day he was set to be euthanized. Thankfully, I was able to arrange the adoption entirely online and when I returned home, I drove nearly two hours to pick him up from the veterinarian where he was neutered. He seemed a little dazed from the surgery but that day, he stepped into the duty of co-pilot as he sat in the front seat taking in the sights.
Bringing Radcliff into my life began a new chapter, especially when it comes to traveling. As a solo, female traveler, safety is a concern and having a canine at my side makes me feel safer.
What I have learned in these two years is having a dog means more planning. Because I frequently travel for work, I often opt for driving rather than flying. My vacations have turned into road trips including visiting family in Western New York. Several hotel brands welcome dogs and few, such as Red Roof Inn and LaQuinta, do not charge an additional pet fee.
During long road trips, I make more rest stops than I typically would when driving solo. More stops mean more travel time. Frequent stops are so he can relieve himself and stretch his legs. When it’s time for me to visit the loo, I have a GMC Terrain where I safely lock him inside with air conditioning running. Most public rest areas prohibit dogs but I have snuck him in once or twice when I didn’t have a choice.
Traveling with a pet means being organized. Radcliff has his own travel bag where I keep his vaccination paperwork and medical records, waste bags, travel bowl for food and water, toy or two, pet pads (in case he has an accident in the hotel room) and of course, treats for when he’s a good boy. His blanket comes along for the journey, too
Traveling with a dog has changed my expectations. I am always up for adventure, however, not every place accommodates dogs, which is understandable. During our travels I have been asked if Radcliff is my assistance animal and I truthfully say, “no.” I do not want to abuse laws when others rightfully need their service animals.
Visiting St. Augustine, I was pleasantly surprised with the number of dog-friendly activities, including sightseeing tours and Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, where Radcliff slurped up the water.
I love the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex but I cannot explore it with my pup. What I can do is board him for the day, for free, at their on-site kennel.
Congaree National Park in Hopkins, S.C., welcomes dogs on the 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop, however not all national parks are as accommodating, such as Everglades National Park. While dogs are welcomed in the campground and private boats, they are not welcome on the trails or boat tours or rentals offered by the park management company. Although I was not able to walk some of the trails I wanted, I did walk the dog-friendly areas and still had a positive experience.
If I cannot travel with him, I have a dog sitter who will watch Radcliff in his home. As a backup plan, a local kennel will board him.
Adopting a dog has changed my life and jokingly I say I finally found love online. Radcliff was a stray and I suspect he is older than what the shelter estimated. It has only been two years and Radcliff has brought me much joy. He will continue to be showered with love, treats, and comfort, and I am honored he is the co-pilot to my adventures.
Jennifer’s Bio
Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led Jennifer Huber to a career path in tourism. She has worked in the tourism industry for more than 20 years including 10 years with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley and Everglades National Park. She currently lives in Southwest Florida, and founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely.
Upcoming Event
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Arts and Crafts at Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Avenue, lunch available for purchase. Lucy Beebe Tobias will be there with her books alongside other authors from ABC Artisans for Books. Buy books for Christmas!