Traveling with Pup to Yellowstone and Wyoming. Any advice?
 

Hi Everyone,
I am flying to Wyoming for an epic family reunion this summer, and we'll be taking a 3-day self-guided driving tour of Yellowstone National Park. My MIL has already booked a different hotel for each night, none of which are dog friendly, but I have a doctor's letter for Meg to be a ED service dog, so I don't think the hotel issue will be a problem. My concern is traveling through a National Park with a dog. Apparently I can take her on the main roads, but no further than 100 yds (ft?) away from a parking lot or road. What am I going to do? We will want to take some hikes (nothing major)... can I put Meg in a carrier and carry her along with me? Is this a really bad idea because she might attract wild animals? Would a dog attract wild animals more than a group of humans? She still hasn't started barking (knock on wood), so I highly doubt that she would be howling to the wolves. The Yellowstone website says that dogs can be left in the car, but there is no way in hell that I will leave my baby in the car in Wyoming in July!!! I imagine that even 2 hrs in a car would lead to heat stroke, right?

I really, really do not want to put her in a kennel for three nights. She is just a tiny little thing (3.5 lbs) and I am so nervous that she will be scared or hurt or refuse to eat. But if a kennel is my only option, does anyone have a good recommendation? We will be staying with family in Alpine, WY (on the Idaho border). Or is there a doggie day care in the area, or any other option besides a kennel?

Would it really be that bad if I put her in a doggie backpack and carried her on the trails to geysers, etc?? And can they still ban her from the "backwoods" (aka trails) even though she is a service dog?

Lions, tigers and bears...OH MY!!!!

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist!!! :rolleyes: Seriously, I have most certainly taken my babies into places where the signs clearly said they were not allowed, i.e. clothing stores, shoe stores, etc. However, the park has rules set for what I would believe to be public safety. With that said, I would not risk my furbaby's safety, let alone my own and fellow family members in this case. I speak from experience when I say the presence of these little darlings can certainly stir up a bunch of hawks over head. So, I can only imagine what ferrocious (sp?) creature would appear should they happen to sniff out your little one during your nature walk...

Have you considered the possibility of having your furbaby stay with friends or neighbors? It's just a thought... :)

I wish she could stay with a friend or neighbor, but we live in Korea and there is no way we are willing to leave her in Korea for 3 weeks while we are in the US. And the only family we have in Wyoming will be with us. I guess I will have to look into a kennel, but I have never left Meg at a kennel and I am very nervous, especially if I am unable to visit ahead of time and see what the conditions are like.

I just keep thinking that if we are only sneaking her into the "main attractions" --- like the 200 ft path from the parking lot to "Old Faithful", it will be okay. It's not like we are going to be doing any overnight camping or "serious" hikes. But yes, the rules are there for a reason... I just really, really do not feel good about kenneling her. I guess I will just call to a couple different kennels and see how friendly the staff sounds. THere is one kennel that has a vet clinic attached... I like the idea of that at least.

I wouldn't even chance it. Nature's elements are brutal and that is no place for a tiny little thing like that. There are actual "pet hotels" that would probably provide better care then your basic dog kennel. In addition, most vet offices offer boarding. I would check out the pet accommodations beforehand, and certainly not risk taking this animal where it clearly doesn't belong. I am sure you will make the best decision.

i would get someone to doggy sit

Yes, but I'm going to be out in "East Blueberry" (the boonies) and there is only one kennel in town. So if the kennel ends up being a bad environment, I need to have a plan b... I do not have any family in the area, so I have to know if it's viable to take Meg into the park with me.

I should also reiterate that we are not doing any crazy hikes.... just short little jaunts to the geysers, which a frequent Yellowstone traveler says is only a couple hundred feet off the main road. It's still illegal to take Meg, but .... is there a real danger if I'm not venturing at all off the VERY beaten path? And what's more dangerous: leaving a little peanut of a dog (3.5 lbs) at a strange kennel for 3 days, or taking her with me and keeping her in a carrier? Meg has never been away from me since I got her, and I am very worried that she will refuse to eat at a kennel, or get attacked by a larger dog, etc.

I really appreciate everyone's advice and opinion. Thankfully I still have several months before we travel. I'm trying to do all of my homework ahead of time. I'm a planner, and I need to have a Plan A, B, and C!

A stranger?! :eek::eek::eek: I don't know anyone in WY besides the people who will be traveling with me.

Perhaps a member of YT could puppysit for you, for a few hours each day?

I'd offer, but I'm pretty far from there.

Thanks! Unfortunately WY and Yellowstone are so sparsely pupulated (ha, that was a typo, but I'm going to leave it!:p) that it would be way too far to drive back/forth for a few hours every day. I am SO not ready to be out in the boonies...

You're welcome. :) I like the "typo". :D You know, you might like the boonies if you didn't have to leave your baby.

...I might like the boonies.... I'm open to anything, but roughing it and being so far from civilization is really nervewracking for me. I want to live close enough to my neighbor that they can hear me scream if there was an emergency. And... wolves? coyotes? lions and tigers and bears?! :rolleyes: AUGHHH!

I think you and I are a lot alike. I like the boonies, but my idea of "roughing it" is in a 26 foot travel trailer with bedroom with a walk-a-round queen size bed, a full bathroom, etc. ;)

Haha, yes! I think I could handle that! I told my husband that he is more than welcome to go off and do some crazy camping in the wilderness, but I will be staying at a hotel with Meg. :cool:

Believe me, you and Meg will have more fun in a nice, safe, hotel!!!! :D