Trains, trams, gondolas and escalators! A few thoughts on how dogs are or aren't accepted in different countries
This summer, I have been spending a great deal of time in Europe. After 28 years of living in Canada and being a frequent US visitor, I started to feel the pull back to my home country and spending more time with my elderly mother and the Czech "branch" of my family. Naturally, when I am in Europe, I am drawn to observe how dogs are accepted, whether they can go on public transit, trains, in restaurants and parks. Two months since my arrival, I would like to give you a little report on what I experience in a little video compilation.
Recently, I wrote about Why salt is more valuable than gold or diamonds and I mentioned that jet lag is mainly a nuisance. Sleepless nights and sleepy days can be seriously challenging especially when it comes to working, however, there is one positive part of jet lag. It gives me a chance to get up early and explore the area before everyone else wakes up!
One morning, I was wide awake at 5 A.M. which was the right time for venturing out in the sleepy streets of Prague. The light was perfect, and I really enjoyed the mystery of not knowing what was to come. Observing the canvas of life through the camera lens is one of my favourite things to do and today, I would like to introduce you to the dogs I encountered on my early morning walk.
Dog #1, Dog #2
I am relatively shy as a photographer but could not resist taking a picture of these three waiting for a streetcar. Dogs are only allowed on public transit if they are muzzled for safety. I guess it makes sense; not all dogs are angels and unfortunately, dog parents don’t always have the luxury of owning a vehicle!
Dog #3
The picture below was fun to take! The pooch would move non-stop and her human was trying to make her pose for me. What I particularly love about this photo is how pleased the man is with his dog. He is definitely a proud parent!
Dog #4
The next dog is Shain. I asked his human why he had the bandage and he told me his dog was bitten by another dog. It was apparent that they were homeless. I was really bummed because I had forgotten my wallet at home and had no change. “No worries, next time!” the man replied.
Dog #5
He was a real people lover! His mom, originally from Japan, lives in Prague and she told me he could not care less about dogs but always connects with people. As you can see, he was definitely eager to say hi and treated me like I was an old friend!
Dog #6
He had a one-track mind! He was on the way to the park to sniff and didn’t care much about me. I was just lucky that before he could run off, I was able to take this quick snapshot!
Dog #7
Just kidding! I saw no more dogs on my walk. Instead, I found three crawling baby statues which were perhaps a suggestion of things to come…
As I walked along the river, I saw a single swan. When I came closer, I realized there were three baby swans with her and two of them were taking a ride! Quite the smarty pants, riding on mamma while the lone sibling paddled along! Perhaps there is a lesson in this photo for all of us. It is not about working hard but working smart!
That is all for today. Don’t forget to check out our new contest page and vote for all the amazing pictures from dog lovers all over the world!
© Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM
