Carolyn and Frank Bistrian and their five dogs share a 22-acre farm in East Hampton. Guest dogs are always welcome.
Like many other pet-friendly innkeepers, the Bistrians, who run the Bend in the Road Guest House, are seniors in their second careers who understand the dilemma of people like themselves who can't bear to leave their beloved pets.
Especially seniors who have filled their empty nests with an affectionate dog may find themselves less mobile than they were when the kids were around. My friends Betty and Emil Hager could never vacation together because one would have to stay home with their elderly dog, Blackie. Nowadays, however, it's easier to take Blackie along. Simply visit petswelcome.com or petfriendly.com. Not every town or resort will come up with a pet-friendly inn, of course, but a good number will. There are also cabins, cottages or condos that can be rented for a week or even a few days, with all kinds of pets welcome.
Guesthouses and B&Bs all have different restrictions. Some limit their welcome to dogs of 50 pounds or less. Some will take all breeds and sizes. Some require that dogs be kept on leashes at all times; others have fenced areas where Fido can romp free. All require that pets, like their people, must be well behaved.
Carolyn Bistrian, 61, an artist and potter who also runs the Earthfire Studio and an art gallery in the Bend in the Road complex, and her husband, Frank, 63, a builder, offer dog guests an unusually idyllic vacation site. They have a walled garden where dogs can play, a jogging path where they can run, and a pet-friendly pool where they can cool off in summer. Rates in season are $255 a night with continental breakfast; off season, it's $100 a night, no breakfast. See bendintheroadguesthouse .com
