Pets Make You Healthier, Happier – Bring Them to the Spa!

Pet parents rejoice! The spa world hasn’t forgotten about our furry friends and how they help to make our lives better. In fact, studies have shown that pets not only help to make us healthier, but they can also make us live longer.

Our friends at Petside.com reported on a study from George Washington University’s School of Public Health and Health Services that showed dog owners who regularly walked their dogs had lower Body Mass Index than those that didn’t, were generally more active, and reported fewer chronic conditions and depression symptoms.

“There’s definitely a relationship between the exercise you do with your pet and the psychological and physical benefits for you,” Dr. Katherine Miller, Assistant Science Advisor at the ASPCA, said in the Petside.com story. “There’s research showing people who have physical ailments or have been hospitalized and have a dog at home tend to recover more quickly and express more satisfaction with their lives.”

In another Petside.com story, How Pets Make You Live Longer, we learn that numerous research studies and polls in the U.S., Great Britain, and Australia have all shown that pet owners believe their pets are good for them physically, mentally, and emotionally, and scientific research has shown the pet owners to be correct.

Resorts and spas are jumping on board with special pet packages or offerings, so no more need to miss your furry one while you go on vacation. After all, vacations are most fun when you’re with the ones you love, right? Check out these hotels and resorts that can’t resist those puppy-dog eyes and furry faces.

• Vermont’s Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa welcomes dogs with open arms. With extensive dog trails located on the resort’s 60 acres of wide-open space, your canine will have plenty of room to roam. The 5.3-mile, easy-terrain Rec Path winds its way through woods and across meadows, past farms, and has great views of Mt. Mansfield. The path crosses over Vermont wooden bridges and by several swimming holes, too.

Stoweflake’s pet-friendly rooms are conveniently located close to outside entrances and walking paths.

• The historic Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley, Arizona, is one of Condé Nast Traveler’s top small resorts in the world and recently launched an all-new Pet Package. The package offers some great pampering for you and your pet:

–          One-night stay in a Casita, Deluxe Casita or Grande Casita
–          Welcome Amenity: Dog treat from Oh My Dog! Pet Boutique; fruit and bottled water for dog owner
–          60-minute in-room Canine Massage with one of the only licensed canine massage therapists in Arizona
–          60-minute in-room Spa Treatment for dog owner
–          Doggie “Tuck in to Bed” – dog walk plus dog movie (e.g. “Lassie” or “101 Dalmatians”)
–          Breakfast in bed for dog and dog owner
–          Includes standard dog amenities: dog bed and bowl

The Pet Package starts from $599 per night for a Casita. Package excludes occupancy tax and gratuity. Must be booked 48 hours in advance.

• For two more days, The Inn at Perry Cabin, in St. Michaels, Maryland, and Keswick Hall, in Charlottesville, Virginia, are offering a limited time waiver of pet fees for guests visiting with their four-legged companions. Fees, which start from $75, will be waived on visits through March 31, 2011.

We love that these Orient-Express properties each boast a custom menu for dogs, with dishes like Grilled Mushrooms or Corn-Fed Boneless Chicken Breast with Fresh Chopped Spinach and Pilaf Rice at The Inn at Perry Cabin, and Mom’s Meat Loaf with Classic Espagnole Sauce and Whipped Potatoes at Keswick Hall. Additionally, Keswick Hall offers Pampered Pooch Sitting ($15/hour for one pet; $2/hour for each additional pet).