We have a cat, Noodles, who lives on board with us. If I were smarter, we would not have a cat, but I fell victim to the "˜cute kitty' syndrome 16 years ago and have paid the price ever since. It's not unusual to have pets on board a boat. Even weekend boaters like to take the family dog along for a ride. My friend Sharon takes her parrot and the cat whenever they go boating overnight - the bird/cat thing is an unusual combination, but they seem to get along nicely.
You would think that people who live on boats would use common sense and limit themselves to the smaller breeds of dogs, but that doesn't seem to be the case. We had a neighbor who raised boxers, a exuberant and friendly breed known for their large litters. At one time, they had 10 boxer dogs on board their 50' Grand Banks. Unfortunately, they didn't keep the dogs on the boat and allowed them to roam the docks. The dogs were out of control and the harbormaster didn't manage the situation. Eventually, everybody who lived aboard in Brisbane Marina had to pay the price. The City of Brisbane took over and everybody who lived on a boat was asked to vacate the marina. We were lucky and found a slip in nearby Oyster Cove, where the harbormaster carried a big stick and kept order.
On the other hand, there are many responsible pet owners. People like the Divine Esther who, when her cats go outside for a stretch in the sun, always stays right with them to make sure they don't stray. Or Dean, who actually keeps his cat on a leash. Our friend Jim Seward has the best Boxer dog ever. His name is Butch and he loves to swim, a trait uncommon for the breed. Boxers are muscle dogs, much too dense to float. Butch has a very strange swimming stroke; his head is the only thing above the water, everything else is vertical and pumping like mad. His lack of style doesn't dampen his spirit. Butch will swim for miles, happily chasing tennis balls, feathers or cushions blown out of the cockpit by the strong afternoon breezes. Anything that floats is fair game to Butch, the Swimming Boxer.
Noodles use to wear a life jacket when we were boating. He didn't like it much, but it had a handle so that we could pick him out of the water, just in case he ever fell in. These days, he stays inside the cabin while we are underway so I don't subject him to the humiliation of wearing the life vest.
Surprisingly, there are life jackets for all sizes of dogs and cats. It's a good idea to have your pet wear one, just in case. Butch was strong enough to use the boarding ladder to get himself out of the water, but if you have an older dog, you might want to rig up something so that they can climb back aboard. We used to hang a piece of net over the side for the cat. The one time he did fall in, he pushed the net out of the way and came up the boarding ladder.
When you first bring your pet on board, bring them in a carrier where they will feel safe and secure. Allow the pet to observe for a while, before letting them out. Once they figure that their people are not in jeopardy, they will settle down. Some pets never become accustomed to the sound of the engines. Your vet can advise should this be the case. Also, make sure, if you are boating with pets that you have an ample supply of water, treats and food on board. And remember, your dog will need a pit stop some time during the trip. We had a friend who had trained his Standard Poodle to use the fore deck to do his business. God forbid that anybody should forget to close the hatch!
Pets are wonderful, but it's important to be responsible for their welfare, and to be considerate of your neighbors. A constantly barking dog won't make any friends at the dock or at anchor.
