Take Your Pets (Dog or Cat) to College
Every time I head down to UM to see my daughter, she asks that I bring our dog. Let’s face it; the pup is everyone’s favorite family member. How do you manage pets at school? Personally, I would rather travel with a dog than have our daughter adopt one of her own that may eventually become mine too, so I often oblige. The good news is that is becoming rather common for people to travel with their pets.
Pet-friendly restaurants near UM:
Many restaurants that allow dogs require them to be on a leash and be outdoors.
Fritz & Franz Bierhaus
Cafe at Books & Books
John Martin’s
Villagio Restaurant
George’s South Miami
Le Provencal
Villagio (Merrick Park)
Sawa (Merrick Park)
Tap 42
Moon Thai
Monty’s Coconut Grove
Greenstreet Cafe (Coconut Grove)
Town Kitchen
Lulu (Coconut Grove)
Wall’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream
Pet-friendly Hotels
Extended Stay America Miami Coral Gables
Residence Inn by Marriott Coconut Grove
Be sure, when making reservations, you tell them you are traveling with a pet. Some have fees. You can book directly through the different hotel brands listed or book through a website like Expedia or Reservations.com or Hotels.com, Tripadvisor.com.
Dog Parks
Perhaps while in the area you just want to let Fido get out and run a bit. Here are a few dog parks in the area:
Blanche Park – 3045 Shipping Ave, Miami, FL. Small tree-lined dog park with a fenced area for off-leash activities, shaded seats & cleanup bags.
Coconut Grove Dog Park – 2171 S Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL. Twenty minutes is a bit of a drive for your dog but perhaps you can plan an entire day in Coconut Grove. We list several restaurants that welcome dogs.
Dog Park – 6380 SW 78 Street, South Miami. Brand new dog park allows dogs, small and large, to run off-leash in a safely fenced-in area. The park features obstacles for dogs to play with and perform stunts, a gazebo hut, two benches and a water fountain for both pups and their owners. Bag dispensers and wastebaskets are on-site so owners can pick up after their furry friends.
Matheson Hammock Nature Trail & Dog Park – 9610 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL. A free public park with acres of open space, miles of nature trails, mysterious old limestone buildings, a lake, and beautiful native plants and animals to observe. If you have a big dog that needs some extra exercise as I do, this is the perfect place to let them explore far from any busy streets or crowded dog parks.
South Miami Dog Park – 6380 SW 78th St, South Miami, FL. About 10 minutes from UM, this brand new dog park allows dogs, small and large, to run off-leash in a safely fenced-in area. The park features obstacles for dogs to play with and perform stunts, a gazebo hut, two benches and a water fountain for both pups and their owners. Bag dispensers and wastebaskets are on-site so owners can pick up after their canine friends.
Of course, if you are traveling with a service animal, which is not considered a “pet,” you are allowed to take your service dog virtually anywhere you are allowed to go. There should be no extra fees or deposits for this. However, emotional support animals may not be allowed to accompany their owners in public places, i.e. restaurants, stores, hotels, so you may want to check before you head out.
That said; if your student is like mine, you may end up with a grand-puppy despite your discouraging reminders of how much responsibility it is. Apparently, the petting zoo out on the green for the students to snuggle and play with during midterms didn’t do the trick. Beware of text messages touting puppy and kitten faces. I recommend counteracting those with pictures of goldfish (the only pets allowed in an aquarium limited to a 10-gallon capacity in the dorms). Perhaps if you stay strong; your student will too.
Pet Policy Agreement
Pets, other than aquarium fish, are not permitted in any on-campus housing facility. This pertains to visiting pets as well as those of the residents of the room/apartment. Please refer to Accessibility and Accommodations here for information regarding emotional support animals and service animals.
When searching for an apartment, it is easy enough to find out which are pet-friendly. Some apartment complexes have separate leases for pets. Remind your student to inspect everything upon moving in and take pictures of any damage so that their new four-legged friends cannot be blamed for it and consequently, not fined for it. It happens.
Some students also have tried to camouflage their pets and have been given seven days to get rid of the animal or be evicted. Some apartments fine their residents immediately. Others have more stringent fines. For example, several of my daughter’s sorority sisters lived in a house that if reasonable evidence was found that unauthorized pet(s) or animal(s) occupied and/or damaged the premises during the lease term, it was considered a violation of the lease, and an automatic $1,000 non-refundable fee would be assessed, plus $25 per month for the period of time that the pet or animal is in the apartment. Obviously, none of these are situations you want your student to be a part of.
Whether you need a pet sitter while you are away or at classes or you want to become a pet sitter, check out Rover.
Finally, if you do end up with grand-puppies or kittens, you may want to add some Hurricanes gear to the holiday shopping list. There are all kinds of fun leashes, collars, toys, and jerseys for our newest, furry fans. If you’re lucky, you too may get some zany videos/pics like the ones I send them of our cat in return.
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