By William Coleman
When planning your next adventure one thing always needs to be considered, where will the pest go while we are away? Many sites across the UK do not welcome our four legged friends with open arms which always leaves us feeling guilty if we leave them behind. This Lancashire park is doing quite the opposite and are being recognised for keeping the love of pets on tour alive.
Being a pet friendly site is an option that is not as widely available as it used to be, which is odd considering the rise in sales of dogs in the last 5 years. I fully understand why a site may choose to have a no pet rule, much like adult only sites, but I also feel a lot of this is made up from stereotypes of dogs on sites which can sometimes be held as fact and not opinion.
With that in mind Moss Wood, in Cockerham near Lancaster, have been named on of Britain’s top three places for caravanners to take their dogs on holiday and they are now up for a major national accolade.
Having beaten more than 3,000 other UK parks that were eligible for the award Moss Wood have seen off all other competition to show their pedigree to become finalists in the 2018 Dog Friendly Awards.
Now the family-run business must wait until the championship finals later this year to discover if it has the overall Rex factor in the caravan sites category.
Moss Wood was taken into the awards by votes from its customers who decided that the park’s canine credentials made it one of the UK’s most four-legged friendly sites.
Its grounds took the lead in a number of different ways, including the putting aside of a four-acre pooch playing field where Bonzos can fetch their balls.
Also getting tails wagging are a raft of refreshment points and poop bins around the grounds, and information provided to pet owners on nearby dog-friendly attractions and pubs.
The organisers of the Dog Friendly Awards, whose sponsors include Eurotunnel, say their aim is to recognise businesses which go the extra mile for Britain’s 9.4 million dogs and their owners.
Henry Wild, whose family has owned Moss Wood for over 40 years, said the park had a long tradition of welcoming responsible families and their furry companions: “Dogs benefit as much as humans from a change of scenery, and nobody likes to fret that their pets are pining for them in expensive boarding kennels far away,” he said.
“Moss Wood is a great place to exercise a dog as the grounds are virtually traffic-free, and we’ve sensible rules in place to ensure that everyone stays on friendly terms.
“We’re also on the cusp of many footpaths and trails both through the countryside and along the coast where legs can be stretched in gorgeous surroundings.
“If there’s a formula for being dog friendly, then I like to think we’ve got it off pat,” added Henry.
An Honest Opinion On Pets On Site
This is a topic that can get some holiday makers really fired up, both fore and against, and sometimes lead to a bit of an argument. What is the issue with dogs being on site?
Here are some of the reason I have heard for not wanting dogs on site: Too noisy when they bark, they will cause a mess when they go to the toilet, they run out into the path of cars, they smell, they interfere with other people.
I can safely say that no dog owners I know who take their dog on site is guilty of any of the above. That is not to say it doesn’t happen as yes of course there are some inconsiderate and poor dog owners out there. Dogs will bark and dogs will have a wonder, if left alone to their own devices but does it actually cause any real issues?
So it is just a stigma, much like children on site, that makes people not want pets on site? I welcome pets of all shapes and sizes to mooch over to me if I am outside my caravan setting up, cooking or relaxing. If anything I try to get them to come over and say hello. You’ve got to love thy neighbour after all.
One important factor that people gloss over is the pet may be the only thing in a person’s life. It is not uncommon for someone to spend a few days or a week on site by themselves because they may not have anyone else. I certainly would not want not want to deny them the company of a pet just because I think the dog may bark at some point during my stay.
In my opinion if you come across an unruly pet you will find an unruly owner, which is much worse if you ask this caravan lover. But the great thing about the caravan holiday is the amount of choice and variety of sites you can choose from. We really so have something for everyone.
