RV Pet Cemetery Becomes A Monument To Man's Best Friends

We are at Sleepy Hollow RV park near the boarder of Mexico in Winterhaven, California. I like to walk and hike and often discover interesting things. Yesterday I came upon an RV pet cemetery. I know it’s an RV pet cemetery because it’s surrounded by RVers boondocking in the desert. RVers love their pets and nothing brings that home more than a stroll through a monument like this. Before you pass under the sign, you read this tribute carved in a wooden sign:
“Goodbye Old Friend You’ll Be In My Heart Forever. They will not go quietly. The pets who shared our lives in subtle ways they let us know their spirit still survives. Old habits still make us think we hear a scratching at the door or step back when we drop a tasty morsel on the floor. Our feet still go around the place the food dish used to be, and sometimes coming home at night we miss them terribly. And although time might bring new friends and a new food dish to fill. That one place in our hearts belongs to them and always will.”

Snoopy is buried here along with a host of other cats and dogs. Another carved sign reads, “Whoever you are your kindness means more than you’d ever guess. The flowers on every grave. The flag that flies high. The Work on the flowers. You watch over our pets. Than you so much! Muffins parents.” Grave markers clearly indicate names like Tiffany, Sarge, Ruff, Buddy, Blaki, Angel and Blue. Pets like Drummer are commemorated with faded yellow photographs and silk flowers. Brew was obviously Canadian and liked to play. Toby was in the guard dog business. While Fletch inspired this poem by Chris:
Tribute to a Dog

No words can truly thank the dog.
No money match its worth,
As, quite content, it lives to love
Some master here on earth.

A dog will never ask for much,
Some water, warmth and play,
And in exchange, no questions asked,
It gives its life away.

A dog is happy on request,
No matter when or where,
If ever you may need support,
Just call and they’ll be there.

Prepared in their own special way,
To help with all their might,
Those sympathetic eyes confirm,
That right or wrong, you’re right.

Though in this life we know not much,
Beginning unto end,
Still, with a dog, at least we know
We’ll always have a friend.

There are even graves for a stray cat and dog that were hit by a car.On Pee Dee and Pandi’s grave there’s a bit of humor with a sign that reads:
“Heaven goes by favor, if it went by merit, you would stay out and YOUR DOG would go in.” This pet cemetery is free because it doesn’t cost you any money to bury your pet, but it will cost you emotionally as you can’t help but shed a tear as you think about all the love these pets gave their owners over the years. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Cats Rock-n-Roll In Old HiFi Cabinet

RVers Jim and Beverly Cowen love animals. They have two cocker spaniels “Bud” and “Angel” along with four cats. All these animals were rescued and given a loving home on wheels. The aptly named kitty “Cricket” jumps up on the counter with ease to check out this reporter eye to eye while the other cats George, Tater and Bitsey are a little camera shy. I visited with these good folks for a while today and found out they’ve been RVing together in every kind of RV for over 30 years. They’re from Seibert, Colorado and are enjoying the Arizona desert’s mild winter. (I’ve been running around in shorts and a tank top this week). Jim has been reading RV Now and RVtravel.com for a while and when he saw me in the campground he introduced himself as a reader and told me about his HiFi cat box. In his previous Prowler 5th wheel he installed a pet door so his cats could go to their litter box located in the 5er basement. When they moved into their Luxury by Design 5th wheel they didn’t have the same basement access as they had in their previous coach. Jim wanted a tidy and well contained place for the cats to take care of business and he found the solution in an old HiFi cabinet he picked up at a yard sale. He gutted the cabinet and put a cat door in one end with the litter box hidden inside. When it’s time to clean the litter box they just lift up the HiFi lid for access. It doesn’t play old records anymore, but it’s the cat’s meow for a litter box container. Putting catnip in your reading - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Stroll With Their Pets

At the Quartzsite RV show I saw lots of RVers with pets. They didn’t want to leave them in the RV and certainly didn’t want to leave them in the hot car so they brought them along. When you want to take you pet with you to an outdoor event where there are lots of people (like an RV show, picnic, or outdoor concert) it’s nice to have the PETStroller by Kittywalk Systems Inc. You don’t have to worry about your pet winding themselves around the legs of the person you are trying to talk with because they are happily relaxed in their carriers. Here Joy Marshall puts her Cockerpoo Toby into the double decker version. This unit holds up to 50 pounds of pets. The carriers can be removed from the stroller and used to safely transport your pets in back of your vehicle. Each carrier has a thick washable foam pad for your pet’s comfort. The stroller folds up for easy storage and has locking safety brakes on the rear wheels. Speaking of wheels, these are large and heavy duty yet allow for easy maneuverability. You might want one of these double decker units even if you only have one pet because you can use the empty unit for storing your extra stuff. You can pick this up on the internet for $199.00 plus shipping. They also have single models that come in pink and blue. Order one of these units by contacting Larry & Joy Marshall at (541) 488-3121 (9 to 5 Pacific time) or visit their website here FunLifestyles. Helping keep your pets mobile - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Please Clean Up After Your Pets

RVers with dogs have a duty to clean up after Fido. Dealing with the poo from the pooch requires you think ahead and bring along a plastic bag or some suitable device for scooping. If you don't pick up after your dog you're a Neanderthal. So look at yourself in the mirror and if you have a unibrow you know why. Picking up after your pet is easier than ever with these plastic bag dispensers that attach to the dog's leash. You can get a retractable leash with a dispenser built right into the handle. They are available at Camping World and other vendors. Keep a couple replacement bags on hand to refill your dispenser. Several times I've walked into our RV (usually after dark) only to realize that I've tracked in poo on my shoe. Please, pick up after your pets - it does matter!

Check out this great online source for bags and other traveling pet goodies - with free shipping even!

Helping keep the campground clean - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Pet Lovers Have a New Way to Give their Pets Medication

Go to any RV park or campground and you will see lots of cats, dogs and other pets. You love your pet and their medical care is very important to you. I used to give my dog Barney his pills by inserting them into hot-dog pieces or cheese, however his pills have become larger and they would often fall out and then I would have to hold his mouth open and stick the pill in the back of his throat to get him to swallow them (always a hassle). Our veterinarian introduced us to a product called “Pill Pockets” and we haven’t had any trouble giving him medicine since. They come in small, medium and large, however you get more value for your money if you buy the large and just break off pieces large enough to envelop the pills. Watch this video to get a feel for how you do this. Helping you keep your pets happy and healthy - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing and ROAD Scholar

Noah's RV? Check Out This Zoo on Wheels

RVing Dogs Enjoy Portable Pens

Visit any RV park or campground and you’ll find lots of dogs. Yes, our precious pups are very dear to us and we will do whatever we can to make their lives more comfortable. Portable pens by Precision Pet allow the RVer to create a temporary yard for their dogs. The pens fold up for easy storage and transport and they don’t contain any bolts, screws or wires that would scratch or harm your dog. This RVer put two of these pen kits together to make a nice enclosure around the entrance to their toy-hauler. These enclosures fasten together with thumb fasteners and can be set up and taken down quickly. You can also buy them with covers so your dog can have shade. Check out their products here: Precision Pet Thanks for your readersip! Jim Twamley

Snowbirds Are Not The Only Kind Of Birds That RV

Skip and Barbra Johnson are former pet store owners and breeders of exotic birds who recently hit the road as full time RVers. They live and travel in a 1996 Allegro Bus motorhome. They’ve been at it for seven months now and love it. The Johnsons RV with two birds in the coach. TJ is an 18 year old female Umbrella Cockatoo with a life expectancy of 70 to 90 years. TJ stands for “Trouble” and “Joy” because she has a great personality but can damage RV furniture. Her bill can cut right through soft woods – like a broom handle with no problem. These birds make good company because they talk to you. TJ has a vocabulary which consists of, “Hello”, “Pretty Bird” and “I’m Sorry” and other assorted phrases. Zane Grey is a 17 year old male African Grey Parrot. He likes to mimic sounds like the RV microwave, emergency vehicle sirens, squeaky doors, and phone sounds. Sometimes they don’t answer their cell phone because they think it is Zane mimicking the sound. From outside the coach friends would ask, “Is that your bird ringing?” He also likes to whistle tunes. One of his favorites is La Cucaracha which puts everyone in the mood for Mexican food. These birds love to look out of the window of the motorhome while they travel saying things like, “Are we there yet? Awwk” (not really, but next time I see them, I’m going to clandestinely teach them this phrase). These types of birds are expensive and unfortunately subject to theft, so they are now receiving ID chips embedded under their skin. One of the problems with RVing with any pet is border crossings. Skip says he would have no problem getting them into Mexico, but would have trouble getting them back across the border. He reports that when he last checked, Canada had a quarantine requirement making it difficult to travel there. Just like you walk the dog, you have to get these birds out for some fresh air. Skip made a portable perch out of PVC pipe and fittings. He didn't glue them together but just inserts them into their fittings until they are snug. The perch is a wooden branch and the chain gives the birds a foot-hold when climbing. An eye bolt screwed into the end of a PVC cap serves to hold up the perch. A note of caution, these birds will in all likelihood outlive you, so you need to provide for them in your will to make sure they go to a good home. Pets on the RV road are numerous and diverse (I once saw someone with a pet goat). What kind of pets do you RV with? Leave us a message in the "comments" section below and tell us. Jim

RVing With Pets Made Easier With Better Information

If you want to know where 13,000 pet friendly hotels, campgrounds and attractions are located around the U.S. and Canada then you may want to purchase the AAA book “Traveling With Your Pet.” This helpful book costs $17.95 plus shipping and is available online here: Traveling With Your Pet This new edition, published in May, features accommodations, policies, pet sizes, whether a deposit (the monetary kind) is required and includes the AAA rating system. You may also want to consider adding another book to your collection as it is specifically targeted to RV parks. Dog Friendly's Campground and RV Park Guide This book sells for $19.95 plus shipping and is available at our bookstore.

RVing Alaska Can Become Habit Forming

Jim and Jeannie Byers are taking their 5th wheel to Valdez, Alaska for the fourth time. Jim’s advice for traveling on Alaska roads is to take your time and enjoy the scenery. Jim and Jeannie are from Bear, Deleware and they will be your camp hosts at Eagles Rest RV Park in Valdez. They have a very interesting dog named Sasha. She is an Akbash which is a breed from Turkey and introduced in the US in 1978. They were bred for herding sheep and keeping predators at bay. She has a beautiful all-white coat and even has white eyelashes.
Jim likes to carry his generator and his wash-tub fire ring on the front of his truck.With a receiver hitch installed on the front this platform carrier attaches easily to the truck for added cargo capacity. If you’re in Valdez this year look them up. Jim

Pooper Scooper

This is a subject that needs some help. Every RV park and state and federal park that we have visited requires pet owners to "pick up" after their pets. Here you see our dog Barney (who by the way thinks he is somehow human) attached to a leash. I like these new leashes because they are on a spring loaded reel that lets out and retracts the teather as you walk along. Attached to the lesh you see a "pick up" bag holder. These are quite inexpensive and very convienient. You always have them because they are attached to the leash.
When you need another bag it neatly dispenses and then tears off at the perferated edges. Refills are inexpensive and easy to replace. Once you collect the "little present" in the bag you can put it on the porch of the camp host and set it on fire with lighter fluid, knock on the door and run - or you can just put it in the dumpster :) No one appreciates RV'rs who do not pick up after their pets - I know a guy that would pick up the "little present" left by other inconsiderate RV'rs and really would place them on the steps of the offender's RV. Sometimes they would get the message, sometimes not. It wasn't me, I would be more inclined to put it under their windshield wipers without the plastic :) If you are going to RV with pets, please be considerate and pick up after them. Also, obey the leash laws and keep your pets on a leash - lots of people think their little Fifi is hamrless until they get sued and have to sell their RV to pay the legal fees. You can also receive a ticket and fine in state and federal parks for not obeying the leash law and you might have to retrieve your pet from the pound as well. So, follow the rules, be polite and pick up the "little presents" and all will well in the park.