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La Quinta Pup “Jackie” Wins AAA Petbook Photo Contest

Book Offers Trip Planning And Safe Travel Tips For Four-Legged Friends

Jackie Wins Pet Photo Contest
Jackie and her owner Christine Jones accept their first place prize for winning the AAA PetBook Travel Photo Contest at the Auto Club's La Quinta branch. Photo courtesy of Automobile Club of Southern California

A dog named Jackie from La Quinta took the first-place honor in the latest annual AAA PetBook® Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western, a AAA Preferred Hotel Partner. The furry champion is featured on the 19th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook®, published in May. This is the third time where a dog from Southern California won the photo contest.  The last time was in 2013 when a dog from Torrance won first place.

 

Along with cover fame, winners receive additional contest prizes, including cash, pet treats, copies of the book and a Best Western Travel Card® usable at hotels worldwide, including pet-friendly properties. The winners, along with other finalists, also enjoy a year of star treatment on the AAA.com/PetBook photo gallery.

 

Jackie, a Coton de Tulear, is this year’s first-place winner, and pictured on the book’s back cover at Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona.  “We include Jackie in all of our driving trips because her companionship adds immeasurably to the pleasure of each (travel) experience,” said owner Christine Jones of La Quinta. “We love seeing Jackie’s beautiful smile and happy prance from the mountain trails of Idyllwild, Calif., to the dog-friendly beaches of Sanibel Island, Florida.”

 

Many Americans consider their pets as full-fledged family members when planning vacations. They long to hit the road with their canine or feline companions, but hesitate for fear of not finding accommodations that welcome four-legged guests. The Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook provides listings for more than 13,000 pet-friendly AAA Approved accommodations in the U.S. and Canada. These include thousands of AAA Diamond Rated hotels as well as 1,000 AAA Diamond-rated restaurants, attractions, campgrounds, dog parks and national public lands. The book also includes information about pet-friendly activities, emergency clinics and pet travel planning and safety tips.

 

As hot days arrive in the Coachella Valley, the Auto Club reminds drivers about the dangers of leaving pets in vehicles.  Temperatures inside a car can reach deadly levels in just a few minutes. With summer travel right around the corner, the Auto Club has tips to keep travel with pets safe:

 

  • Never leave a pet in a vehicle, not even for a short period of time
  • If you see a pet in an empty vehicle, dial 911 immediately and follow emergency personnel instructions
  • Use a carrier or harness attached to a seatbelt to prevent pets from distracting the driver
  • Take a rest break every two hours to get your pet fresh air
  • Leash your pet before opening a car door at rest stops and at your destination
  • Avoid car sickness by feeding your pet a small meal at least four hours before hitting the road

 

For winners and finalists, contest rules, entry forms and pet travel tips, go to AAA.com/PetBook. Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, price is $18.95 U.S., and hits the shelves at participating AAA and CAA branches and bookstores. The digital edition is available through online booksellers.

CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.