Me, Dog........PARIS!

A couple of months ago, I decided to check off a  bucket list item by visiting Paris at the end of September this year. I found a cheap flight and fabulously inexpensive Air BnB apartment in the Latin Quarter. So I booked a week and decided to go alone.

Or not.

Last time I left Choochi for ten days, she was well taken care of by my wonderful dog walker and friend who would pick her up at night and they'd do a sleep over. But when I got home, she kept checking on me to see if I was actually still there. That sort of broke my heart. She's always with me, really. It must be confusing or distressing to spend so much time alone.

So, I decided to take her with me.

"WHAT ARE CRAZY?" "That's mean." "SHE'LL BE HAPPIER AT HOME" were some of the responses I got to this idea.

Then I saw this New York Times article right after I started to think about this. It was sign.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/travel/dogs-travel-france.html

In France, Our Dog Has His Day

Hotels, shops, bars, restaurants — dogs are welcomed warmly just about everywhere. For Pip (a.k.a. Pierre), the prancing was never better.

"The French cherish dogs. Their high, uncompromising regard for them is pretty much world legend. Dogs are a mainstay of French public life. Almost everywhere the French go, dogs go. When you leave your house, you take your wallet, your keys, your dog."

SOLD.

In addition, I sheepishly asked my vet whether she thought this was a good idea.  She smiled and said "It's a GREAT idea." 

This I didn't expect at all. I expected the "she'd be happier at home" lecture.

Apparently, when this amazing person had just finished vet school, she traveled around Europe alone with not one, but TWO Huskies AND an infant daughter. 

Dr. Jenna Lenarz

What a woman.

So the journey begins with, "OK how do you DO this?"

She needs shots, a microchip, a health certificate that has to be rubber stamped in Albany of all places. And a ticket.

This is going to cost an additional $350. But I'd spend that leaving her at home with the dog walker.

Dogs aren't welcomed everywhere in Paris. Museums, for which one goes to Paris, do not allow them. This might be problematic at times, of course. I might not get to see the inside of Versailles, but I can roam the gardens freely. 

I will visit the Louvre and other places once she feels comfortable staying in the apartment alone for several hours at a time.

Oh, and we bought a little backpack for her to ride in to keep her stealthy. It transforms into a nice little stretched out flat sleeping area also. She actually LIKES it. I put her in and she doesn't leave.

If you like this pack, find it on Amazon It's called "Pet Magasin Pet Travel Kennel"
 It's super cheap too! $29 bucks and really well made!

The one worry I have is flight delays and how to deal with her
bathroom needs. Some airports actually have designated "doggie bathrooms" these day. Their very own.


The vet said "She'll hold it. Or she won't."

You can get all kinds of advice on this online. But bottom line, they have to unlearn being a "good girl" and go someplace that isn't normally ok to go. On a "pee pee pad". In a bathroom stall with you. 

So that's probably not going to happen.

I'm going to line her carrier with a super duper pee pee pad thing, and just hope for the best.

Oh, and the other thing I did to expedite my waiting time in security and hopefully spend more time in the doggie walking area before I board, was to sign up for TSA-pre check for $85 for 5 years.  Apparently, dogs can come too!

Anywhere I go, my dog loves to go.

Everywhere I go, within an hour, I have interacted with at least four people who talk to her first, then me.

What better traveling companion could I have?

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on this and advice if you have them!

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