TulsaPets Magazine May 2023

40 TulsaPets • May / June 2023 A pet-friendly boutique hotel is set to open this summer in Tulsa’s SoBo District (South Boston). The Brut Hotel, 1840 South Boulder Avenue, will wel- come humans and their furry friends, making it easy to get away without leaving your pets behind. “Our hotel is pawsitively pet friendly,” quips Kim Honea, vice president of hospitality and development for Sharp Development. (Sharp and Wolf Group Investments are partners and owners of the ho- tel.) “Brut has a strong focus on unique design, exceptional hospitality, wellness, and adventure, and we also want your dogs to play!” In a location that earlier housed Draughon School of Business and later an apartment complex, the Brut Hotel has an exterior that reflects the stark and minimalist architectural design indicative of the Brutalist style, which emerged in the 1950s. However, the interior is warm and welcoming, with plenty of greenery and natural materials incorporated into the décor. The 82 rooms, a mix of standard rooms and suites, are spacious. “A typical, average hotel room is 275 square feet,” Honea notes. “By comparison, at the Brut, our minimum size is 320 square feet. Our average room is 420, so our rooms are really huge. It allows more room for your pets to stretch out their paws.” The hotel will offer plenty of amenities for human occupants, including Soma, a rooftop restaurant and lounge, and a patio space on the ninth floor. An outdoor pool with a bar and lounge area and the nearby 1820 Spa will make the Brut a perfect place for a staycation for locals too. Of course, the hotel will also provide ways to enhance your pet’s visit. With a pet-pack- age upgrade, your room can be outfitted with a Brut dog bed, leash, bandanna, food and water bowls, and special treats for your pup for the duration of your stay. Many of those items will also be available for purchase at the hotel gift shop if you want to take something home with you to remember your stay. In addition to the hotel’s 2,000-square-foot lawn, the Brut is close to River Parks, with its endless miles of trails, and Dream Keep- ers Park (formerly called Boulder Park and later Veterans Park), so hotel guests and their animal companions will have plenty of space to play and exercise. The hotel will also offer discounts to Tails and Ales, a dog park with a bar-retail concept at nearby 1903 South Boston Avenue. Owners Mark and Amy Gorman created the park as a place where pet owners can exercise their dogs, get drinks, or grab a coffee. Dog-washing stations will even be available. “We’re working in partnership with Tails and Ales as an option for our guests with pets, and we also want to highlight how easily you can access Riverside Drive and the Midland Valley Trail,” Honea says. “It’s great for our guests from out of town, but it’s also wonder- ful for locals who might want to get out of their houses for a staycation and bring their fur babies with them.” The Brut Hotel will welcome dogs and cats. Fees are $75 per pet per stay with a maximum number of two pets per room. A weight limit might apply. Please visit https://www.bruthotel.com fo r more information and booking. Tips for Traveling with Your Pet Summer vacation is here. Traveling with pets can be stressful for animals and humans alike. Here are a few tips that can help to ensure a safe and comfortable journey. • Visit the vet before you travel. Make sure vaccinations are up to date, and obtain a health certifi- cate for your animal. Travel with proof of rabies vaccination. Talk to your vet about ways to make your animal comfortable during travel. • Plan for plane travel in the cargo hold. Book direct flights when possible. This reduces the time your pet is traveling and the risk that the pet might be left on the tarmac in extreme weather or mishandled by baggage person- nel. Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate. Make sure the crate and your pet have identification. • Prepare for road trips. Take practice runs. Prepare your pet with increasingly longer trips in the car ahead of time. • Secure your pet in a well-venti- lated crate or carrier. It should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down, and turn around. Secure the crate so it doesn’t slide or shift. If you choose not to use a crate, keep your pet in the backseat in a harness attached to a seat buckle. • Bring a travel kit with food, plenty of water, a bowl, leash, waste scoop, plastic bags, medi- cation and first aid, and any travel documents. Take a favorite toy or pillow for your pet too. • Don’t leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle. Even with the windows down, a parked car can become warm enough on a hot day to cause heatstroke. • Stop frequently for exercise and potty breaks. PAWSITIVELY HOSPITABLE Brut Hotel Will Welcome Furry Guests along with People by Julie Wenger Watson Rooms at the Brut Hotel are spacious, averaging 420 square feet and providing plenty of space for guests and their pets. Photo courtesy of the Brut Hotel.