A finance executive from Singapore, Loong Lim, has described how missing his dog while on holiday led him to actively seek out opportunities to interact with animals during his travels. “Our pet dog, Sandy, is very much our child,” Lim said, explaining that Sandy’s size prevents her from flying in the cabin with him and his wife. “Spending time with animals when travelling helps to fill the Sandy-shaped hole she leaves!”
Lim’s experiences highlight a growing trend among pet owners to incorporate animal encounters into their travel plans as a way to mitigate the distress of leaving their companions behind. He favors outdoor experiences, such as safaris, farms, and animal rescue sanctuaries, finding them a welcome contrast to the urban environment of Singapore. “It offers a very different type of experience to a city-centric holiday, and a chance to reconnect with nature in a way we struggle to in Singapore,” he said.
A recent trip to New Zealand provided a particularly memorable experience. Lim recounted a dolphin-watching excursion where the boat was accompanied by a canine co-worker – a dog trained to detect the presence of Hector Dolphins. While the dog was unsuccessful in locating the dolphins on that particular outing, Lim noted the animal more than compensated with “an abundance of love and cuddles.”
The desire for animal interaction while traveling extends beyond mammals. Bird enthusiasts, for example, can visit the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden in Hong Kong, a long-standing market featuring a wide variety of songbirds, parrots, and the traditional bamboo and teak cages crafted by local artisans.
Meanwhile, in Croatia, the Koversada Park Camping Resort, established in 1961, caters to travelers seeking a nature-focused holiday. The resort, which includes the Koversada Covered Campsite, offers pitches and mobile homes designed to blend with the surrounding Istrian landscape, alongside amenities like a dog beach and pet-friendly accommodations. The campsite is open from April 24th to October 4th, 2026.
