Adoptions Are Just $1 At Collier County Domestic Animal Services

With Christmas right around the corner, you may be looking to add a furry friend to the family and right now adoptions are just $1 at Collier County Domestic Animal Services in Naples.

Growing up, I always had at least 1 dog, if not 2-3 at a time. I've been an animal lover all my life and when I moved out and it became time for me to get my own animal, I started searching rescues online. I didn't have a particular breed of dog I needed to have, but adopting was very important to me. I was living in Fargo, ND at the time and it was right after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, that my little guy was found as a stray. There was a rescue from Minnesota that went down to bring dogs up and my little Rocket was one of them. Adopting him was the best thing I ever did. Not only because he needed someone to love him, but because I needed someone to love. Best decision ever.

We all know that things have gotten SO expensive. But right now, if you're looking to adopt an animal, that's not the case at Collier County Domestic Animal Services. ALL adoptions are just $1 through December 31. Looking at all the animals that need a home breaks my heart, I wish I could save them all. But right now, is the time to adopt and welcome a new baby into your home for the holidays. The shelter is so full, so you can expect a variety of breeds, ages and sizes. And not only do they have dogs and cats, but small critters too like guinea pigs and bunnies.

For a list of all adoptable animals and for more information on how to adopt, click here

If you plan on doing any traveling over the holidays, here are 8 pet-friendly hotel chains so your four-legged friends can join you.

When I travel, I love being able to bring my dog Rocket with me. He's not a big fan of air travel, so I tend to bring him the most on road trips, but not all hotels are pet-friendly. I remember when I moved down to Fort Myers from Chicago, I didn't have my stopover planned. That night, I remember being exhausted and driving to 4 different hotels looking for a place for us to crash for the night. Our pets are our babies and being able to bring them with and include them in our plans. Whether you're traveling within the state of Florida, or elsewhere, you don't need the stress of worrying where to stay.

Depending on where you're traveling, finding a place for Fido may be easier than others. For instance, in the Midwest, Nebraska and Kansas are on top when it comes to pet-friendly accommodations. According to momswhosave.com, in the U.S. overall, 41% of hotels are pet-friendly, but compared to other countries, we don't even make the top 25. High-end hotels do seem to be more welcoming with 67% of five-star hotels welcoming our furry family members.

So how do you find pet-friendly hotels? I'm constantly looking and not all brands make it obvious. I prefer to book directly with the hotel rather than using a third party booking site. BUT, sites like Expedia make searching easy. I've made it even easier though and put together a list of 8 pet-friendly hotel chains.

There are over 3500 brands under Choice Hotels including Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion and more. All of these hotels are pet-friendly.

Every Motel 6 hotels welcome pets. In fact, if you're an AKC member, you'll even receive a discount.

Not all Best Western hotels are pet-friendly but over 1600 of them are. And not only do they accept dogs, but also cats, birds and other small animals.

There's over 1500 pet-friendly Marriott locations in the U.S. with brands like the Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Delta Hotels, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites and more. There may be fees and restrictions on breed and weight, so make sure to check on that in advance.

Four Seasons is very accommodating to pets. So much so, that some of their properties offer grooming and walking services and even have a special doggie menu.

Kimpton hotels are very welcoming to pets. Not only do they let pets stay, but they also have lots of fun stuff for our furry friends like comfy pet-beds, pet food, water bowls, and more. Some locations even have a Director of Pet Relations-- fancy!

From coast to coast, there are 165 dog-friendly Westin properties. Weight restrictions and nightly fees may vary. But hotel guests will get, upon check-in, a doggy welcome kit with food and water bowls, an in-room sign, and a comfy dog bed. 

Many of Peninsula's properties allow dogs, but most do have a maximum of 2 pets. Some hotels will also provide food and water bowls and a dog bed.