The final word It's a (dog) mad world

Life on the road can sometimes be a lonely place – empty nights in a distant hotel room, solitary restaurant dinners for one surrounded by happy couples. You know the score.

But it seems those days could be a thing of the past, and it’s all because of the pandemic and a huge rise in pet ownership.

During lockdown, an additional 3.2 million households rushed out to get an animal companion and that’s meant a huge rise in demand for pet-friendly accommodation, according to SilverDoor Apartments.

Since 2019 the agency has seen a whopping 500% rise in requests for accommodation that welcome furry friends, which equates to around 40,000 enquiries last year.

Head of Communications Victoria Jackson says travellers returning to work after the lockdown were actively looking to take their animals on trips.

“Pet owners want to feel their animal is not just tolerated but welcomed with open arms. We’re seeing ever more creative responses from our property partners in this regard, such as personalised goodie baskets, hampers or tailored welcome