With so many digital cameras readily at hand, it’s a snap to capture pets enjoying vacation activities in breathtaking settings. Travelers who enter their best shot in AAA’s annual photo contest have an opportunity to see their pet featured on a cover of the 15th edition of The AAA PetBook® and the AAA.com/PetBook photo gallery. The contest is open through Nov. 30.
Two pooches from Southern California were selected as top dogs and pictured on the 2012 AAA PetBook® sponsored by Best Western, a AAA Preferred Hotel Partner. The four-legged winners have enjoyed a year of fame on the 14th edition of the book as well as a year of adoration on the AAA.com/PetBook photo gallery. Plus they received contest prizes, including cash, pet treats, copies of the book and a Best Western Travel Card® usable at more than 4,000 hotels worldwide, including 1,600 pet-friendly properties.
The 2012 first-place winner, a Tibetan terrier named Lady, GCH Starlight’s Lady in Waiting, from Torrance, was pictured on the 2012 book’s back cover on a scenic overlook at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. As a show dog Lady has been accustomed to the spotlight, but she doesn’t always have the luxury of being able to see the sights. “When we extended our trip last year to go to Crater Lake, Lady has a blast!” said owner Cassandra Basgall. “Our dogs are our family. It’s hard to leave home without them.”
The 2012 second-place winner, Maggie, an American Eskimo/Pomeranian mix from Placentia, was featured on the book’s spine in a photo taken during a trek through Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. “Our dogs are our kids. We try to take them whenever we can,” said owner Wendy Gillroy. “Maggie doesn’t even mind the long drive as long as we’re going to be outdoors.”
Photo entries are judged on artistic qualities and ability to convey joys of safely traveling with a pet. Candid photographs preferred. Contest rules, entry forms and photos from the previous contest are available at AAA.com/PetBook. Winners appear on Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook®, released each May. First- and second-place photos appear on the back cover and spine of the soft-cover book and opening pages of the digital versions.
The AAA PetBook® provides reliable, up-to-date information on more than 14,000 places to stay and play with pets. Listings include pet-friendly AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings across the U.S. and Canada. Details include fees, permitted pet sizes, conditions of stay and pet amenities for properties at every AAA Diamond Rating level including — for pampered pets — AAA Five Diamond hotels.
For outdoor lovers, the book also lists more than 600 pet-friendly campgrounds and RV parks, AAA Approved attractions that offer kennel service or allow pets, and national public lands and dog parks open to visiting pets. Readers will also find useful tips on preparing four-legged travelers for the road or air, pet etiquette, insurance and emergency animal clinic locations.
The soft-cover 2012 edition of Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook is available at many AAA and CAA branches and select bookstores with a cover price of $18.95 and a discounted member price. Digital editions for tablets and e-readers are available through online booksellers at $9.99.