World events have been pretty gloomy lately, so I’m going to turn my mind to more pleasant things: Cute animals in hotels.

It seems a frivolous subject, but I think resident pets have a hugely positive effect on guests and hotel staff, too. A cat purring away on the reception desk, or a friendly pooch pottering up for a pat, is a genuine welcome that can’t be faked. It always brightens my stay to be greeted this way. And sometimes the interaction goes further. Ask nicely and the resident pet might be available for a rendezvous in your room. Those with pet allergies may not be so keen, so it’s best to check ahead.

A few years ago I stayed at the stately Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland. Apart from its baronial splendour – it was once the Guinness family holiday home – one of the most memorable things were the friendly resident wolfhounds, Garvan and Cronan, who loped around the property, but mostly enjoyed lying by the hearth in the Oak Hall, as wolfhounds do. They’re no longer with us, but Ashford now has three younger wolfhounds, Molly, Dougal and Mulligan, that guests can accompany on daily walks through the woodlands.

The enduring bond between dogs and humans dates back more than 15,000 years and often forms instantaneously when you meet an unfamiliar canine. It’s not always that instantaneous when you meet a new human. As for cats – well, you always know where you stand with them.

Hotel personnel often form their own strong bonds with the animals they work with every day (or maybe work for), grooming them, making vet’s appointments and essentially deferring to their every whim. But there’s also another big advantage for the hotel to have a cute mascot to greet guests – they often turn into social media stars.

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