Recently a story in The Wall Street Journal caught my eye. The topic was not related to business, politics or even sports. Rather, it referenced a byproduct of the horrific fires in California and what some folks are doing with their furry friends.
It would appear that some hotels have made room to accommodate not only people displaced by the wildfires, but also their pets. We are not just talking about your local motel either. Sure, many pet friendly hotels in Los Angeles are rolling out the red carpet for their clients both with and without fur, but this story talked about the swanky high end hotels including the Beverly Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. Although most of the pets are dogs and cats, there have been cases of rabbits, hamsters and even snakes seeking accommodations.
Many high-end-pure-bred dogs including Chow Chow’s, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Pharaoh Hounds have taken over the most posh hotels showing up in the lobby, hallways and elevators. Cats however, typically stay in their rooms. It should be noted that Los Angeles is considered a pet lover’s paradise being ranked the most popular city to have a dog by U.S. News & World Report. Still, this seems a bit over the top. Then again, L.A. is known as a place where some doggies have their own mansions.
With pets numbering in the hundreds at some hotels one might think the environment would be chaotic and highly stressful for both guests and staff. In actuality, the high number of dogs has helped ease the stress among everyone. This is especially true for guests who have lost their homes or are uncertain if they have. Many of the staff have reported how nice and comforting it is to have so many sweet dogs around.
This is not to suggest the influx of pets has not been challenging for management and staff as they have scrambled all over L.A. to find extra dog beds, food and toys. Housekeepers have added poop pick up and putting down potty pads to the list of their usual duties. In addition to taking care of the needs of their human guests, room service is also being asked to help open cans of dog food as well as assisting in getting cats to come out from under beds. Although plenty of potty accidents are occurring, staff are handling the clean up with grace and professionalism.
The staff at some hotels have made sure their dog customers receive nothing but the best luxury service. The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills makes all of its dog food in-house even offering Wagyu beef for canines. The life of a dog. It almost makes you want to be one. Almost.
