New Dog Policy effective July 1, 2009

* Important News for Pet Owners *

In response to a growing number of dog-related issues and problems in the last few years,
Orient Land Trust is reluctantly revising our policy on dogs.

Dogs will still be permitted at OLT / Valley View,
but we will now begin charging for the privilege of bringing pets here
and we will be more strictly enforcing our current rules.

The following changes will take place effective July 1st, 2009:

In addition to the current refundable $50 Pet Deposit, there will be
a Non-Refundable, per-dog charge for all dogs on OLT property.

For overnight guests staying in Lodging:  $10 per dog, per stay
(not per night)

For overnight guests who are Camping:  $5 per dog, per stay
(not per night)

For Day Visitors:  $2 per dog

While many dogs are not a problem, we still deal with a large number of off-leash and barking dogs on a daily basis. We occasionally have groups that arrive with more dogs than people, and we sometimes have more than 20 dogs on the grounds on busy weekends.  Particularly during the summer months, this requires a significant amount of staff and volunteer time registering pets and dealing with loose, loud, or problem dogs. Also, our cleaning staff has to spend additional time cleaning cabins that have pets - charging for them will recoup at least some of the costs associated with allowing dogs at OLT.

In addition, though our pet rules will not be changing, we will be enforcing them much more strictly.  Warnings (for dogs off-leash or barking, for example) will only be given out sparingly. In the case of blatant or repeated disregard of the rules, owners will be asked to leave immediately and the entire amount of the dog deposit will be forfeited. Our goal is not to penalize dog owners, but to create a quieter, safer experience for everyone here, including the wildlife.

OLT has always tried to balance the needs of many diverse groups and we strive to provide a peaceful and safe environment for all.  To the extent that dogs are barking excessively and running around loose, this detracts from everyone’s experience, including dog owners. We regret having to implement these changes, but as the number of dogs at Orient Land Trust has increased, so have the number of visitor complaints about loose and barking dogs. These changes will allow responsible pet owners to continue to have the privilege of bringing their dogs to OLT, while at the same time mitigating the effects of dogs on the grounds, particularly problem dogs.

We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation!