Anthrocon's Pet Policy
Some folks have asked recently about bringing pets to Anthrocon. After discussing among ourselves and with our insurance carrier, we must ask with regret that Fido stay home. We know that he'd be well-behaved, but we worry that he might be hurt by the dog/fox/snake/buffalo that someone else might decide to bring. So, sadly, no pets allowed (proper service animals excepted).
Eh... family is back out in the country. Made the mistake of feeding a skunk...
Turns out it was a female skunk. With kits..
Result? She ended up bringing her family to the back porch. Mom sent me a couple pictures of my siblings holding the kits. Rather cute.
Best not to hear more stories of 'animal services took my pet away and euthanized him while i was at the con because a hotel maid called it in'...
Has that actually happened?!? o.o
I would'nt be surprised..
Most hotels don't want pets in them .
So if you smuggle a SNAKE for example and they don't know it's a domesticated one .. what's the most likely thing to happen you think?
Xenia Onatopp , she's all woman 
Yes... I forget who though, I hope they don't read this, cause they'd kill me for forgetting...
They lost a fox to a maid who walked in despite a 'do not disturb sign' on their door. She freaked out and called animal control and put it down without contacting the owner, despite it being properly liscenced and tagged.
So yes, DO NOT bring pets, they have died unfairly in the past and will continue to do so unless you leave them at home.
It did happen, many years ago. It was a little fox named "Cardboard." I understand that Cardboard got excited and nipped the maid. The law is very cranky when it comes to the "usual rabies-bearing mammals" (foxes and raccoons) biting people, and Cardboard had to be put down and tested for rabies.
I do not want to see this happen at Anthrocon. Neither do I want to see a dog get freaked out at the sight of a fursuit and bite someone, or decide he wants to have a conversation with another dog about who should be the alpha.
Don't get me wrong. I adore dogs. I also know very well how they think. For their own safety, as well as our attendees, the pets really do need to stay home. The only fur will be on the fursuiters.
And, of course, remember that our Standards of Conduct prohibit leashes in public.
Oh my god .. it must have been horrible for Cardboard's master to learn his pet was killed.. damn..
I can imagine the outrage it caused at the con..
Xenia Onatopp , she's all woman
That is too sad. :'(
Makes me wish that more areas had the same law regarding suspected rabid animals that we do here. Bite cases are quarantined and only euthed when they are confirmed to be rabid.
A terrible shame though, I hate to see anyone lose a pet like that. x.x
A Thought: I've noticed in other cons that the animals brought always seem to be very large nearly human size dogs.
I won't go on much, besides emphasize the "human size" bit and ask if the con needs that kind of trouble.
~~
Everyone blinked. The giant eyeball, having no eyelid, stared.
For many furry fans, "leaving the dog at home" means "leaving the dog at a kennel". If it happens to be a large breed, from a German Shepherd Dog (GSD) on up to Malamute or Akita Inu or even a Great Dane, this means a boarding bill of upwards of from $50 to $75 _per_day_, plus a bath and grooming bill on going-home day; and if one has had a bad experience with a few kennels, or if one is used to travelling with one's pet anyway, the reasoning suggests bringing the dog along.
People - particularly single people - are proud of their pets. They like to show them off, demonstrate their skill at training and taking care of a pet, particularly to a potential audience of like-minded and appreciative folk. I did this with my malamute, White Fang, for ConFurence 12, which happened to be hosted in my home town of Burbank; I had arranged for a suite for myself and out-of-town guests, figuring I could save on boarding costs, or repeated in-and-out charges into the parking lot at the con hotel, to go home 3 times a day (minimum!) to take care of my dog; and I wished to show off my beautiful dog to a few fanciers of Huskies.
This plan fell through when the hotel staff would not let me through the event space while they had a food table set up, and when White Fang decided that he didn't like riding in elevators - when something that weighs 90 lbs decides to drop on the floor as deadweight, and spread all 4 legs and brace itself rather than get into an elevator, - and that something can growl, and make you realise that it is _not_ happy with the idea of getting in that mysterious box that feels like its falling, and will argue the point if you insist - well, you do not get into elevators, that decision is made and you had best accept it. My friends used the suite, I slept at home with my dog.
Kage is right - it is a folly and a risk to bring pets to such a busy and confusing and crowded place as AnthroCon; I just wish to point out why some people have tried it, and it isn't for nebulous or nefarious purposes.
I agree with No Pets. A crowded hotel in the summer is not a place for your pet anyway. If it's a dog, there is just too much going on and the stress level will be high for the animal. You can't leave the pet in your room alone while you go off exploring. Providing for food, water and relief for your pet while at the con is also not easy. Think of your pet, instead of yourself. The pet will be much happier at home where it feels safe and comfortable. ... As for the fox, that was a shame, but in ALL states, a fox is considered a wild animal. There are no licences for foxes. You may get a special permit to keep it, and that is in only a few states. In any state, if a wild pet animal bites someone, it is immediately surrendered to the authorities and euthanized. The owner has no say in this, it's the law. The poor foxes owners caused the animals death by their ignorance of the laws, not the hotel. It's possible that it was even in the state illegally, not just in the hotel.
No pets, they need to stay at home. They will still be there when you get back.
If your animal is properly trained and properly socialized with both people and other animals, then having your pet at a con will not be a problem. Anyone who has an animal that would be subject to stress in crowded situations, or has no history of contact with other animals (meaning you have no idea how they would react) should _not_ be taken to a con.
It's a judgement call on the part of the owner, and unfortunately I'd imagine that many owners lack the proper perspective to correctly make that judgement call.
For that reason I support the con's decision to disallow animals, but because of that decision I'll not be attending AC at anytime in the future. Without any place to leave my dog while I'm gone, and with a kennel being completely out of the question (especially considering the cost of the con to begin with), there isn't even a choice.
I am very sorry to hear that. *hug*
-There is no truth
That's a bummer to hear, but I can understand your decision.
I don't suppose there aren't any Pittsburgh area furs who would be willing to provide temporary housing for your dog during the convention? Just a thought...
--
My LJ - My Website
Yeah but what about transporting that poor animal across the country? If the poster is who I *think* he is, he lives on the west coast. And he's probably already tried the "friend" thing within his local area.
This sort of issue is one of the many reasons I don't have a pet. I would LOVE one, don't get me wrong, but my life is far too chaotic and mobile to put an animal through it.
For many things in life, there are many choices but none of them are "good".
-There is no truth
but I wanted to bring my pet ostrich and Black Widow
XD
I know some people have excentric pets (I've seen a skunk once)
but buffalos
Xenia Onatopp , she's all woman