No Dogs Allowed!

I have spent time in different parts of Europe and the thing I like most (beside the train system, being able to walk everywhere, the old buildings, the food, etc.) is how they allowed dogs in all shops. I took a picture of a dog in a meat market (and he wasn't in the display case) so I could show people back home that dog-friendly travel is possible. I got my hair cut in France (another story for later that some of my friends are still shaking their heads over) and there were 2 large dogs roaming the salon. I liked that.

The USA has such an aversion to dogs in public places that one would think dogs all had contagious diseases. I know I'm not the only one who has done this, but sometimes I have no choice but to sneak my dog (7 pound brute that he is) into establishments that don't cater to animals (unless they are cooked medium well).

I drove across country, Texas to the east coast, with my chihuahua-mix Seymour and all I can say is that if I had invested in companies that make "no dogs allowed" signs, I'd be wealthy. There has been no downturn in that industry.

Even most state-run rest stops take up more space with their "no dog" signs than they put aside for the place dogs could walk. In one state, I was literally directed to walk my dog along the freeway! And what does one do when it is 105 degrees out and a person(me) needs to use the rest room - but no dogs are allowed? I have tried to park close to the rest room, crack the car windows, race like I was going to a 10 minute shoe sale, will myself to quickly do what I need to do (and wash my hands of course) and hope to get back to the car before my dog turned red with heat exhaustion. That wasn't very fun and it didn't make my digestive system very happy.

I finally decided to buy a large purse-like doggie carrier. I stealthily would place him in the carrier and zip his head down into the bowels of the plastic bottom. ThenI would hold the bag close on the side of my body furthest from people and hope that no one noticed the mesh opening on the side of the bag where Seymour's nose was plastered against it. Usually it works ok. I have been asked to leave some places when they notice my purse moving on it's own (and barking). It's a little embarrassing when someone comes up to me (always in front of other customers) and says tersely "I have to ask you to leave". I know that other customers don't know what awful thing I did to be escorted out of a store. I can just imagine what they are thinking-theft, distruction? I mark those businesses off of my list and won't even go back if I don't have an animal stashed somewhere on my body.

I admit that I do sneak my dog into some fast food restaurants. Most of the time I just order food to go, but on one occasion I decided to eat on site. I was with my daughter and grandson and we were all needing to take a break from driving. It was a warm day and I didn't want to leave Seymour in the car so into the carrier he went and into the restaurant we all went. We managed to order our food and get to our table without detection. I had purchased an extra cheeseburger for Seymour and periodically during our meal, I would tear off a piece of meat and drop it into my purse. Everything was going as planned. We were all relaxed and happy. As I was dropping the last piece of meat into Seymour's hiding place, his head suddenly shot up so hard that the top of the purse partially unzipped. The next thing I saw was Seymour's head sticking out with a look of indignation on his face.

For some reason he wasn't happy. I looked around to see if anyone saw us and either we got lucky or people were intentionally ignoring us. I tried to push his head back into the carrier but he wanted no part of it. I knew that it wouldn't be long before I was asked to leave - again, so I grabbed the first thing I could find which was my grandson's blanket. I threw it over Seymour's head and bolted toward the door. Of course we were nowhere near the exit so I was weaving between people with a blanket that was now making my purse look like it was glad to see me!

I was out of breath by the time I got back to the car and a little frustrated with my normally calm dog. When I took him out of the carrier, I noticed that the bottom was filled with little pieces of hamburger. He hadn't eaten any of it. It was like he finally got so disgusted with being hammered on the head with gross "food-like" stuff that he finally decided "enough is enough". If he could talk I'm sure he would have said "it's one thing to be hidden away in a plastic purse so that no one can admire me and pet me but it's a totally different thing to be pelleted with little brown disgusting things while I'm locked in that hell hole you call a "doggie carrier".

I guess it was kind of like making a big bowl of food and then sitting him it in - not too appetizing! Lesson learned. But as long as there are "no dog allowed" signs, I will be toting Seymour in his doggie carrier-minus the unwanted"in purse" buffet.