Yorkshire Terrier - Terror at Villa Roma, New York

Yorkshire Terrier - Terror at Villa Roma, New York

By: Ro Nicole, Commack, New York

My mom has a time-share at Villa Roma resorts in Callicoon NY. Every year my teacup yorkie "Penny" and her sister a 4 lb Chihuahua named "Bambi" bring my mother up to the time share at 5pm, spend the night and then leave for home at 6am the next morning. We have been doing this for 5 years. The salesperson that sold my mother the timeshare, said it would be ok to do this, because my mom is a disabled senior citizen who cannot drive herself to the timeshare.

To get to Villa Roma, I must travel over 2 major bridges: Whitestone and Tappen Zee. I have fear of bridges. My Yorkie Penny and a prescription medication calm my anxiety enough to make it over the bridge.

Penny and Bambi are very well behaved, they are not yappers and they use a wee pad. The villa that the time share is in has 4 apartments. This past October 2006 my mom was the only person in her building. It seems a cleaning lady saw Penny sitting in her front car seat while I was helping my mother into the building. Although the Villa Roma advertisements in all the NY Travel Guides say they allow pets, the truth is they do not.

Sunday night October 29th, security was sent to my mom’s room. The girl in the main office said the dogs had to leave immediately. I advised it was late, I could not drive another 5 hours home in the dark and without medication that I could not take again till the next morning. She replied put the dogs in a kennel. I was not from the area, I did not know of any kennel, the one they called was not open, and there were no hotels that accepted pets nearby. When Penny gets excited she exhibits signs of collapsed trachea. She was gasping for air. My mother who has high blood pressure was turning bright red. I couldn't take my regular meds because there was the possibility I would have to drive. I don't have high blood pressure, but the EMT's registered my blood pressure at 158 over 105. (My norm is 117 over 72)

The girl from the office was screaming she was calling the state police. The security guard was grabbing for the dogs. The EMT called for oxygen because I could not breathe, I had started to hyperventilate. (I guess it's true that dogs and they human owners take on similar characteristics because there was Penny and I, both having difficulty breathing). The security guard made the decision to let the dogs stay in the room for the night, because they were taking me to the hospital.

The very next morning Penny, Bambi, my mom and myself left Villa Roma. My mom lost a week vacation which cost her over $1,000.00. I had to pay costs for hospital and ambulance bills. I never realized how horrible some people can be. Since this had never happen in the previous 5 years, I can only attribute this situation to the miserable girl in the main office of the hotel. (Yes, it was the girl because she wouldn't call anyone higher in authority). I recommend that anytime you bring you smaller family member somewhere you call first to see if they are pet-friendly AND get it in writing. My mom will be selling her 2-week time-share. She will find someplace else that allows for four-legged family members.

AS far as I am concerned, I will tell everyone how anti-dog the Villa Roma Time shares in New York are.

Popular Dog Breeds