by Jen Reeder

Locals know that Durango is a dog town. With seemingly endless trails and a 23.6-acre dog park along the Animas River, Durango offers tons of recreational opportunities for canine companions. Durango’s businesses often cater to pets too, from retail shops to restaurants and hotels.

Now the Durango Area Tourism Office (DATO) is promoting Durango’s dog friendliness to visitors as well, touting the town’s various pet-friendly offerings.

“A recent request on where someone could host a dog marriage enticed us to look more closely at all our dog offerings,” said Anne Klein, public relations consultant for DATO. “From our public art to dog services, Durango has plenty of dog-friendly locations. The dog park makes a major statement about our city.”

She said DATO is hoping to build a niche market in part because dog-friendly travel is on the rise, based on inquiries they’ve received as well as the increase in new dog-friendly travel blogs and websites like GoPetFriendly.com. Nationally, more people are traveling with pets and looking for services on their vacations. For example, AAA reported this May it has seen a 40 percent increase in pet-friendly AAA-approved hotels and campgrounds since 1999.

Klein, who enjoys exploring Durango with her dogs, said the promotion is not contrived because being dog friendly is just the way Durango is.
“We are trying to share the message with visitors in order to make their visit even better,” she said.

The Rochester Hotel’s “Welcome Waggin Package” includes DATO’s Durango dog leash, Zuke’s treats and coupons to local kennels, pet stores and groomers./Photo by Steve Eginoire

Cathy Wakeman, owner of Animas Trading Co., at 1015 Main Ave., said the bohemian clothing store has been dog friendly since the doors opened in 1990. Well-behaved dogs are allowed inside, and employees have a stash of dog treats behind the counter for canine shoppers.
“All the local dogs know us – they pull their owners in,” she said. “Some of the dogs will just come right in front of the counter and sit like, ‘Where’s my biscuit?’”

She said the pet-friendly policy is good for sales because it allows people to come inside instead of just window shop if they have their dog with them. And something might catch the eye of a prospective customers who hadn’t intended on shopping until their dog pulled them in. The only time the dog friendly policy created problems was when a man brought in three dogs on a joint leash, then dropped the leash so the dogs could run and play in the store. The leash wrapped around the base of a rack and pulled the entire rack of clothes over.

“That was the only problem we’ve ever had – I wasn’t very happy with the guy,” Wakeman said. “Most people are good about watching their dogs and making sure they’re not chewing on something or lifting their leg.”

Andy Snow, co-owner of Nini’s Taqueria at 5524   Main Ave., said the casual Mexican eatery has been pet friendly since the patio opened eight years ago. Dogs are allowed to sit on the grassy area outside the patio as long as they approach from the alley instead of walking through the restaurant, per the San Juan Basin Health Department regulations, he said.

“Well-behaved humans and pets are always welcome,” Snow said. “It’s only natural to be dog-friendly because Durango is a dog town and being a local restaurant, we want to cater to everybody.”

Another part of DATO’s dog-friendly initiative involves working with local hotels like the Strater and the Rochester to offer packages that include DATO’s new “Durango (hearts) dogs” leashes. The Leland House and Rochester Hotel, at 726 E. Second Ave., began including the leashes in a new “Wagging Welcome Package” at the end of June. When making a reservation, people traveling with dogs can request the free package, which includes Zuke’s treats, coupons to local kennels and groomers, information about dog-friendly options in Durango, doggie bags and the leash. The hotel also offers dog beds in any of its four dog-friendly rooms, which are available for $20 per night.

“Normally the dog-friendly rooms book up really fast,” said Merritt Winkler, manager and marketing director at the hotel. “It’s really fun for us. People are happy when they have a spot for their critters and can bring them along. You meet some fun little pups.”

She said the hotel also has seen an increase over the years of tourists bringing their dogs to stay.

“As long as there is a policy in place for how to deal with the animals, I think it would be beneficial for every hotel to be pet friendly,” she said.
She said guests are not allowed to leave dogs unattended in the room because their barking could disturb other customers, or they might tear up the room left to their own devices. So visitors leaving to ride the train or visit Mesa Verde should board their pet at a day-care facility.

LeeAnn Craig, owner Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats, at 21738 Hwy. 160 near the Dog Park, said her day-care/boarding facility caters to local and tourist dogs, and will stay open later for visitors riding the train.

“Durango has always been pretty dog friendly, and it is great that DATO is pushing that,” Craig said. “I do think it is an economic plus to be a dog-friendly town. You know – pets are our kids! Why kennel your dog and go to Vail when you can bring him with you to Durango?”

DATO’s initiative also promotes dog safety by encouraging people to bring their dogs into businesses instead of leaving them in a car, Klein said. This pleases Dr. Stacee Santi, managing veterinarian at Riverview Animal Hospital, 670 S. Camino Del Rio. She said a dog should never be left in a car – she’s had to treat many dogs left in cars for heat exhaustion – or overexercised.

“Overexercising can definitely generate body heat and induce heat stroke, and dogs don’t really have the sense to stop if they’re having fun,” Santi said. “One of the hardest activities on a dog is running behind a bike, because how fast are they going? They will keep going until they drop.”

She said when exercising with a dog, it’s important to bring water and treats, and to force your dog to take breaks to rest. If a dog is overheating, do not submerge it in cold water because that can lead to shock and death. When traveling, she advises microchipping pets and making sure your contact information is up-to-date with the microchip company. (According to the American Humane Association, more than 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen each year. But over 94 percent of lost pets with a microchip are successfully reunited with their owners.)

Andrea Avantaggio, co-owner of Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave., said responsible pet ownership is key to keeping pet-friendly policies alive and well in Durango. She recently flipped off her bicycle by colliding with an unleashed dog that darted onto the Animas River Trail from behind bushes. Still, she said there has never been a problem with dogs visiting Maria’s, which has allowed dogs inside since the store opened in 1984.

“We’d much rather have them come in the store than be tied up outside. Then their owners are more relaxed and we’re more relaxed,” she said.

 

“We love sharing that part of their life with them.”

Avantaggio said Durango will continue to be dog friendly as long as owners don’t get “dog-friendly” confused with “ruled by dogs.”

“That’s something for everybody to keep in mind,” she said. “Clean up their poop, keep them on a leash, and everybody will stay happy.”