The Dog Blog

We love dogs in Algoma Country! Almost everyone you’ll meet will have a loveable furry family member at home who we’ll want to tell you about. We take our dogs everywhere: camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, boating. It’s hard to leave them at home. If you’re looking to take your fur baby with you or your service dog on vacation in Algoma, we’ve compiled a list of important things you need to go before they go.

Bringing Your Pet From the U.S.

If you’re looking to bring your dog or your service dog with you when travelling from Michigan or another U.S. state into Algoma, there are some important things to know:

• Your dog must have current rabies vaccination certificates (within 36 months).
• Service dogs are exempt when travelling with their owners.
• Your dog doesn’t need a microchip or tattoo identification if it’s a personal pet.
• You can bring a maximum of 20 kg of pet food into Canada but it has to: be from the United States and commercially packaged, you must be in possession of the food at the time of entry into Canada, and you must have both your pet and the pet food with you at time of entry, and only your pet can eat the food you bring.

If you have any other questions visit www.inspection.gc.ca or phone 1-800-442-2342.

Bugs, Bugs and Bugs

Being outdoors in Northern Ontario means lots of fun adventures, but it also means lots of bugs. Mosquitoes, flies, black flies and ticks – there are many types of insects your dog will encounter. Here are some important things to know:

• Never apply DEET products to your dog.
• Check your dog for ticks after time in the woods.
• Talk to your vet about tick-repellent medication or natural tick repellents.
• Although it can be hard, sometimes it’s best to avoid outdoor activities when mosquitoes and flies are the most active.

Safety for you and your pet is important to us during your vacation in Algoma. While boating and paddling, it’s important to wear a PFD (personal flotation device). Just like people, not all dogs swim well or know how to swim. The boat or canoe may tip, your dog may fall overboard, or just decide to take an unexpected swim. No matter what the case, a PFD will help keep your dog afloat until they are rescued. Many pet stores carry PFDs in different sizes to fit your dog.

Pet-Friendly Accommodations

When booking your vacation, be sure to ask in advance if the property you’re staying at is pet friendly and what the policies are. Properties may require a nominal fee for your pet’s stay and simple rules such as keeping your dog leashed and cleaning up. Every property has different policies and fees. Some properties may not allow pets but will allow service dogs. Be sure to ask about pet policies at the time of booking to ensure your stay is fun and carefree.

Here's a list of some of the pet-friendly partners in Algoma Country:

Hotels & Motels

• Carolyn Beach Inn & Restaurant, Thessalon
• The Catalina Motel, Sault Ste. Marie
• Comfort Inn, Sault Ste. Marie
• Red Top Motor Inn, Iron Bridge
• The Water Tower Inn, Sault Ste. Marie
• Wawa Motor Inn, Wawa
• White River Motel, White River
• Villa Inn & Suites, Hearst
• The Voyageurs’ Lodge, Batchawana Bay

Bed & Breakfast

• Rock Island Lodge, Wawa

Lodge Resorts & Outposts

• Brennan Harbour Resort, Spanish
• Camp Anjigami, Wawa
• Dunlop Lake Lodge, Elliot Lake
• Errington’s Wilderness Island, Wabatongushi Lake
• Kaby Lodge, Wawa
• Laurentian Lodge, Elliot Lake
• Lodge Eighty Eight, Esnagi Lake
• Mar Mac Lodge, Esnagi Lake
• Moose Horn Lodge, Chapleau
• The Outpost Lodge, Mississagi Valley
• Waterfalls Lodge, Spanish

Campgrounds

• Fred’s Trailer Park, St. Joseph Island
• Glenview Cottages & Campground, Sault Ste. Marie
• Sault Ste. Marie KOA, Sault Ste. Marie
• Ojibway Tent & Trailer Park, Garden River
• Serpent River Campground, Serpent River
• Wawa RV Resort & Campground, Wawa
• Sault Ste. Marie KOA (has a dog park), Sault Ste. Marie
• Blueberry Hill Campground, Goulais River
• Veilleux Camping & Marina, Hearst

Cottages & Resorts

• Birchland Cottages, Iron Bridge
• Birch Lake Resort, Thessalon
• Bruce Bay Cottages, Bruce Mines
• Cedar Rail Ranch, Mississagi Valley
• Como Lake Resort, Chapleau
• Northern Skies Resort, Mississagi Valley
• Lake Lauzon Resort & Marine, Algoma Mills
• Limberlost Lodge, Mississagi Valley
• Lauzon East, Algoma Mills

If you’re staying in Sault Ste. Marie or passing through and your dog needs some exercise, take them to the Strathclair Dog Park. The park is fenced, which means you can safely unleash your dog to run and play.

Check-list

• Collar and Leash, or Harness
• Vaccination Records 
• Identification Tags
• Bags to pick up after your dog 
• Dog First Aid Kit
• Food and Water
• Safety Restraints (if travelling by car for extra safety, if required)
• Bed, Crate or Blanket
• Fun Stuff to play with

For the ultimate dog packing list, check out this list from Dog Jaunt.

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.