Pets Not Allowed! Why?

Why Consider Allowing Pets?
  

1. Strong Demand from Pet-Parents

• A study by Carr and Cohen (2009) found that many Australian pet parents want to travel with their dogs, but the tourism accommodation sector doesn’t sufficiently meet that need.
• According to Pets in Australia: A National Survey of Pets and People (2022), there are approximately 28.7 million pets in 6.9 million households, highlighting how integral pets are to Australian life.
    

2. Motivations & Experiences Shape Choices

• Pet-parents choose destinations based on how well those locations accommodate pets, including access to walks or hikes, pet-friendly accommodation, local eateries, pet services, and veterinarians nearby. Attachment to their pet is a strong driver (Hidalgo-Fernández et al., 2023).
• In the dining sector, pet-parent customers gain emotional and social value from being able to dine in environments where their pets are welcome (Shao et al., 2024).
    

3. Competitive Advantage & Differentiation

• Listings of pet-friendly holiday rentals in Australia are increasing. Sites and travel hubs report growth in searches for “pets allowed,” with more properties labelling themselves as pet-friendly.
• Platforms dedicated to pet-friendly accommodation, such as PetBubble, show this is a growing supply and demand niche, including holiday homes, beach houses, cabins, and an increasing number of pet-friendly attractions, walks, events, and sites.
     

The Concerns Around Allowing Pets 
  

Alongside real operational challenges, there are some limitations with current legislation in Australia. However, as legislation already allows assistance animals, many concerns can be mitigated.

1. Damage and Cleanliness

• Pets can cause wear and tear, stains, and odours; cleaning between stays may cost more.
    
  Mitigation:
  • Charge additional pet-service fees to cover minor damages.
  • Require an insurance deposit, similar to a rental car agreement, to cover major damage.
      

2. Noise & Behaviour

• Barking, howling, or other disruptive behaviour can lead to complaints from guests or neighbours.
    
  Mitigation:
  • Incorporate infrastructure to reduce noise, such as double-glazed windows, insulated walls, or soundproofing. Disruptive noises, like crying children or arguments, are unavoidable in shared spaces, but planning can minimise disturbance.
        

3. Hygiene & Health

• Some guests may have allergies; pet hair and dander can persist.
    
  Mitigation:
  • Dedicate pet-friendly rooms or spaces separate from other guests.
  • Inform guests prior to arrival that pets may be present in shared areas.
  • Kitchens should remain pet-free (including assistance animals) to prevent cross-contamination. Extend existing cleanliness protocols to manage pet hair and dander.
        
    Legislation:
    • Australian Federal – Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Food Standards Code (Standard 3.2.2): live animals (except seafood, shellfish, fish) are not allowed in food handling areas. Assistance animals must be permitted in customer areas. Pet dogs may be allowed in outdoor dining areas under certain conditions (must be open, not enclosed). Full details: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/animals
        
      

4. Guest Coexistence

• Ensuring guests without pets are comfortable is crucial. Shared spaces (restaurants, pools, etc.) require clear policies. Existing assistance animal protocols can be extended to pet-parent guests.
    
  Mitigation:
  • Pets should remain on leads and under control, not fed in public areas.
  • Provide facilities for toileting outdoors with proper waste disposal.

Finding a Balance
  

Policy Elements

• Clear pet policy: specify permitted animal types, size, number, and fees (e.g., cleaning deposit).
• Behavioural expectations: require leashes, guidelines about noise, and supervision.
• Pre-approval or case-by-case vetting: meet pets in advance or request references.
    

Design & Amenities

• Outdoor seating areas in restaurants/cafés where pets are welcome.
• Pet-friendly features in accommodation: durable, easy-to-clean surfaces, outdoor yards, pet amenities (water bowls, dog beds).
• Distinct zones: separate spaces for guests with and without pets.
    

Marketing & Brand Strategy

• Clearly promote pet-friendly status, highlighting amenities that matter to pet-parents.
• Use pet-friendly offerings as a differentiator to build loyalty.
    

Community & Legal Support

• Promote community pet-friendly environments where Australians can spend quality time with their pets, neighbours, or out-of-town visitors, whether in public spaces, restaurants, or tourist attractions.
• Embrace community spirit by ensuring assistance animals are welcomed alongside other pet-parents and their well-socialised pets, while encouraging pet-parents and pet-carers to respect social norms to create enjoyable and responsible experiences for everyone.
    

Final Thoughts
 

In the “allow, or not allow” debate, for holiday rentals, eateries, and tourist spots, evidence strongly suggests that allowing pets (with proper policies in place) is not merely a nice-to-have but a real business opportunity.

Hosts and hospitality businesses who implement thoughtful pet policies, amenities, and clear communication can capture a growing market of pet-parents, build loyalty, and differentiate themselves.

References

Animal Medicines Australia 2022, Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people, Animal Medicines Australia, viewed 15 September 2025, https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au.
Brown, B.R. 2018, ‘The dimensions of pet-owner loyalty and the relationship with communication, trust, commitment and perceived value’, Veterinary Sciences, vol. 5, no. 4, article 95, viewed 15 September 2025, https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci5040095.
Carr, N. & Cohen, S. 2009, ‘Holidaying with the family pet: No dogs allowed!’, Tourism and Hospitality Research, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 353-369, Bournemouth University Research Online, viewed 15 September 2025, https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk.
Cobb, M., Lill, A. and Bennett, P. (2020) ‘Not all dogs are equal: perception of canine welfare varies with context’, ANIMAL WELFARE, 29(1). doi:10.7120/09627286.29.1.027.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand 2025, Animals, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, viewed 15 September 2025, https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/animals.
Hidalgo-Fernández, A., Moral-Cuadra, S., Menor-Campos, A. & Lopez-Guzman, T. 2023, ‘Pet tourism: motivations and assessment in the destinations’, Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 335–350, viewed 15 September 2025, https://doi.org/10.1108/CBTH-06-2022-0132.
Hospitality Magazine 2024, The perks of being a dog-friendly venue, Hospitality Magazine, viewed 15 September 2025, https://www.hospitalitymagazine.com.au/the-perks-of-being-dog-friendly.
Legislation.gov.au 2023, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), viewed 15 September 2025, https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2023C00277.
MDPI 2023, ‘An analysis of the demand for tourist accommodation to travel with dogs’, Societies, vol. 14, no. 2, article 18, viewed 15 September 2025, https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/2/18.
Shao, X., Zhang, X., Jeong, E., Li, J. & Shin, H. 2024, ‘Furry friends welcome! Investigating dog-owners’ perceived value of dining out with their pets’, International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 121, article 103820, viewed 15 September 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2024.103820.
Westminster Research 2014, Including pets when undertaking tourism activities, Westminster Research, University of Westminster, viewed 15 September 2025, https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/.
Zhang, X., Liu, Y. & Shao, X. 2026, ‘How pet-owning restaurant customers’ experiences shape their emotional reactions: evidence from PLS-SEM and text mining’, International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 132, article 104355, viewed 15 September 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2025.104355.
Zhang, Y. 2023, Traveling with pets: designing hospitality services for pet owners, Academia.edu, viewed 15 September 2025, https://www.academia.edu.