It may not have happened to you yet, but it does not mean it will not happen down the road. Heed these warnings and advice.

If you read my previous Facebook post from August 18, 2023, about the hotel phony charges scheme, you will know that these plots occur when someone travels for business or pleasure. Now, complicate the matter more by having show dogs in the room, and the door has now been opened for every fraudster hotel operator looking for money to line their coffers.

Today, there are more complaints about unscrupulous hotel operators charging guests for post-stay falsified damage or smoke odors in a hotel room than ever before. That some hotel employees are surfing through hotel manifests looking for an unsuspecting guest or, better yet, "victim" is not far-fetched. Many of these surprise hotel charges are applied to the credit card days after the guest has left the property — typically with no warning.

I learned the hard way as I became one of these targets while traveling solo, without dogs, volunteering my time for a Specialty Dog Club. What the crooked hotel staff did not count on when they chose me as their victim was that I am a real estate broker accustomed to documenting almost everything. Including a non-operational LED TV display. From this point onward, I will proceed with additional precautions when I stay in a hotel or Airbnb, as advised by ConsumerRescue.org.

But traveling with dogs escalates the likelihood of falling prey to an unscrupulous hotel operator looking to steal your money with false damages claims. You should take the same strict precautions as if you were renting a car. Do the following before bringing your dogs into a hotel room or Airbnb. 

Inspect your hotel room first! Just like you do when renting a car. 

Using the Smartphone, gather what I dub entry and exit snapshots in time by photographing and video recording your hotel room(s) and bath. Always make sure that your Smartphone has location, time, and date enabled on all your pictures and videos. You will need these if a hotel alleges damages. 

While doing so, it is essential to take inventory of the room's contents. How many clocks, floor lamps, coffee makers, glassware, extra pillows or blankets, etc.? Look around to ensure no prior damage exists, including carpet stains or frays. If you notice deterioration on the furniture, drapery, or damaged bath & lighting fixtures, zoom in and document these areas. Some hotel properties will falsely charge guests for worn-out items when it's time for a replacement. If an electronic, such as a TV, does not work correctly, do not ignore the issue. Alert the front desk immediately about any discrepancies or if the room has any odor, especially smoke, and remember to request the desk clerk's name; you will need to keep that for future reference. 

For those dog show people who rearrange the furniture in hotel rooms to accommodate several dogs, be extra vigilant. Carefully assess that coffee table or chair you just moved to ensure there are no scratches, broken legs, or nicks in the wood or material. Otherwise, you may be buying it at a highly inflated price.

When you are ready to leave and after you have documented your room's condition with exit photos and video, have the front desk clerk or manager come down to the room. Have them verify that the room has no damage or cigarette smoke. You may have to pre-arrange this at check-in so that they have an employee available. Doing so does not guarantee the hotel will not pursue a damage claim once housekeeping is complete. Still, it is another protection layer you could have when you dispute any post-stay charges after leaving with a pet(s). Of course, nearly every hotel has a "pet fee" charge for supposed comprehensive cleaning, anywhere from $25 to $100 per day, which guests agree to when they check-in, but damage claims are entirely different. 

Save all these records because ConsumerRescue.org reported post-stay charges appearing on credit cards three to even 14 days after check-out. It can be a week or even longer when the consumer catches these charges. 

Yes, these precautions sound extreme. However, ConsumerRescue.org reports that after plowing through hundreds of complaints involving phony hotel charges, they always recommend you err on the side of caution. In various cases, hotel employees have planted false evidence, such as cigarette butts and ashes or light bulb glass scattered around the carpet. They then photographed such manufactured evidence and claimed damages to the room. Yes, you read that correctly. The hotel planted false evidence after the guest checked out. Believe it yourself by reading some of ConsumerRescue.org's outrageous cases. 

Remember, falsified damages can range from minor to significant. Alleged damages accusing your perfectly coiffed and exquisitely behaved show dog could be substantial. This consumer advocacy group has documented post-stay charges against guests for as much as $1,400.00. Corrupt hotel operators and Airbnb hosts are trying to get away with highway robbery!