Back about fifteen years ago, on my first visit to Paris, I was surprised at how totally the Parisians included their dogs into every day life. We saw dogs in restaurants, sitting in their own chair at the table, dogs in stores, dogs in museums, and lots of dog crap all over the sidewalks, which didn't seem to bother anyone.
So I wasn't surprised now, when I just recently learned that Paris's Cemetery of Dogs, Le Cimetière des chiens d'Asnières-sur-Seine, is thought to be the world's oldest public pet cemetery.
In June, 1899, digging began on a narrow parcel of riverfront land in Asnières-sur-Seine. The new cemetery opened for business that summer, and over the years more than 40,000 animals have been buried in the Cimetière des Chiens--not just dogs, but also cats, a racehorse, a lion, a monkey, and domestic animals such as rabbits, hamsters, mice, birds, and fish.
Paris for Visitors has visitor information and captioned photos of the Le Cimetière des chiens d'Asnières-sur-Seine. They recommend a visit for anyone who's fond of animals -- and especially for families with young children, who may find a pet cemetery more interesting (and less overwhelming) than the great human nécropoles of Paris.
One of the blogs I visit frequently is Riviera Dogs. It is filled with excellent photos of dogs, taken in the south of France and Monaco.
Ahh, that's the life I would love - warm, sunshiny, relaxing ... with many tourists and local dogs, enjoying the scenery, the food, and the lifestyle. I, too, would take photos of all the cute dogs and their owners!
Riviera Dogs is administered by Jilly Bennett, who also owns a dog sitting facility, Pension Milou. When residents of the Cote d'Azur go away on holiday or business, they know their dog will be looked after in an environment just like home.
From Menton: Roquebrune village held its annual Fête des Châtaignes (the Chestnut Fête) - with between 1500 and 2000 visitors arriving at the village to buy roasted chestnuts and sip hot wine or tequila.
Can't you almost smell them roasting?
And then, - October in Monte Carlo!
Jilly - you have so much to do! Aren't you tired? Do you need an assistant? I'd do it for free!
Can I come and live your life?
Photo credit: all by Jilly Bennett
This is Chico from Phoenix, Arizona. Chico is a member of the Biker Dogs Motorcycle Club. He has put on about 35,000 miles and is on his second bike.
Looking for something fun and different to do in New York City? Look no further.
If you’re a dog owner, or even just a dog lover, you’re in for a treat. Tourists and locals alike will have a doggone good time with New York Dog Tours. They offer you and your furry friends the opportunity to get out there and experience New York City like you’ve never experienced it before.
Visit some of the most dog-friendly places in Manhattan. Each of the three walking tours is specifically designed to entertain and educate. You’ll visit famous landmarks, find hidden-treasure pet shops, and discover historical facts that will surprise even the most seasoned New Yorker. Whether you want to spend quality time with your pet, meet other animal lovers, learn about the attractions New York has to offer, or just take a stroll around Manhattan, you’ll find what you’re looking for with New York Dog Tours.
Sounds like fun!
Since all dogs are descendants of wolves, isn't it amazing the variety to be found?
I have a strange hobby of photographing dogs and food whenever I travel. Here are some of the dogs I've met on my trips:
From February 13 thru February 17, we were in San Diego, attending the Global Pet Expo. The pet industry's largest annual trade show is presented by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA.) It is not open to the public, but is open to just about everybody who has anything to do with pets: manufacturers, distributors, sales reps, pet shop owners, groomers, breeders - you name it.
We saw some very interesting individuals at the show. Some were there hawking their products.
Some show attendees were colorfully dressed.
Of course we had to visit i-pets.com's favorite supplier, Pet Factory. Pet Factory is the only manufacturer of USA rawhide pet treats. Doesn't their display look wonderful?
At this display for a bird seed manufacturer, we got to pet an American Eagle and an owl.
There were numerous dogs of all sizes at the show. This guy looked like he was ready to leave.
This magnificent Newfoundland patiently greeted visitors at the display he was representing.
The Global Pet Expo had an amazing amount of pet merchandise - just about everything you can imagine for pets of any sort. What I noticed was a trend in automated toys for pets to play with if their owners were just too lazy to play with them, doggy treadmills for dogs whose owners were too lazy to walk them, pet strollers for pets too lazy to walk. The clothing and accessories for little dogs is just overwhelming - think of any item for your children - they'll have it for your dog.
The most ridiculously silly items? Canine coffee for your dog's morning drink, an artwork kit for your dog to create paintings, a self-flushing litter box to put on your toilet and this: Contech’s new ChatterBowl is a talking pet bowl, so your dog can hear your voice any time it wants. The food bowl records your voice, and plays it back when your pet approaches. Your voice will play whenever your pet comes to eat or drink.
The show was fun, but even more fun was exploring San Diego and meeting some of the locals ... We met this pooch having lunch at the Prado restaurant in Balboa Park. (No, the hamburger was not for him.)
These days, pets are often given the same privileges as their human owners when it comes to grooming, play dates, pet spa treatments, gourmet meals and exercise routines. Since pets are usually considered a part of the family, why should things be different when you take the whole crew on a vacation?
Traveling with a pet can be a bigger hassle than your typical trip to the groomer’s, but TravelHacker has compiled this ultimate guide for a pet-friendly vacation to make sure everyone has a good time.
Albert, the World's Largest Bull, has been guarding the peaceful streets of Audubon since 1964. He is 30 feet tall and 33 feet long, and has a 15-foot span between horns. He also has baby blue eyes and giant concrete gonads.
He weighs 45 tons, and most of it is solid concrete. The steelwork that forms his mighty frame was salvaged from abandoned Iowa windmills.
Back about fifteen years ago, on my first visit to Paris, I was surprised at how totally the Parisians included their dogs into every day life. We saw dogs in restaurants, sitting in their own chair at the table, dogs in stores, dogs in museums, and lots of dog crap all over the sidewalks, which didn't seem to bother anyone.
