<p>Au Contraire! This is a story where the dog could well be asking for an “owner’s bag”. What?! Yes indeed. This is a story about a town, which carries its dog-friendly nature to extremes. It encourages you to pack your dog’s bags, with yours and bring them along on your vacation!<br /><br />Ann Tatko-Peterson reports of going on holidays with her sister-in-law and their two dogs. The trip was planned specifically to cater to the dogs – Daisy and Misty. The town we are talking about is Carmel-by the Sea. <br /><br />This town has a reputation for eccentricity. For example, they once banned ice cream cones so as to protect the pavements from “drips”, and keep them clean! <br /><br />There was even a rule requiring permits if you wanted to wear high heels!<br /><br />Many of us have heard of this town in connection with Clint Eastwood and his famous one-liner, “Go ahead, make my day!”<br /><br />Now, however, Carmel is most famous for is its being selected as America’s most dog-friendly resort by the Internet site dogfriendly.com. Carmel has 25 hotels, and other accommodation of varying sizes. <br /><br />More importantly, there are over 40 restaurants, bars and coffee baristas, where dogs are permitted. <br /><br />If you don’t like dogs this is not the place for you. Why? This is because, Carmel even has a leash-free beach – among the very few such remaining beaches in California. <br /><br />Shops and art galleries in this esoteric community welcome dogs with water dishes and biscuits!<br /><br />The inn where Ann stayed had 44 luxury rooms and more than a third of the guests had brought their pets. <br /><br />When guests check in, their dogs are received with a great big bowl of dog biscuits! <br />The rooms are clean with a mattress for the dogs, and no trace of the previous guests’ “pet stops”.<br /><br />For dinner, those guests who don’t go out to the city’s numerous dog-friendly restaurants can opt to stay in the hotel and dine in one of the hotel’s on-site restaurants. This eatery has a special area where dogs are welcome.<br /><br />If you think this is the height of luxury, wait till you hear of ‘Diggedy Dog’, a dog and cat boutique designed for the upscale, well-heeled pets! It stocks run-of-the-mill homemade treats as also toys and pet-strollers and prams!<br /><br />Would you believe the Carmel Church allows pets? There is a floral gallery in Carmel called ‘Twigery’, whose owner made the point about the canine visitors best when he said, “When I die, I want to come back as a Carmel dog!” Indeed, it’s a dog’s life and the life of a man’s best friend is not to be sneezed at, at least in some parts of the world.</p>
<p>Au Contraire! This is a story where the dog could well be asking for an “owner’s bag”. What?! Yes indeed. This is a story about a town, which carries its dog-friendly nature to extremes. It encourages you to pack your dog’s bags, with yours and bring them along on your vacation!<br /><br />Ann Tatko-Peterson reports of going on holidays with her sister-in-law and their two dogs. The trip was planned specifically to cater to the dogs – Daisy and Misty. The town we are talking about is Carmel-by the Sea. <br /><br />This town has a reputation for eccentricity. For example, they once banned ice cream cones so as to protect the pavements from “drips”, and keep them clean! <br /><br />There was even a rule requiring permits if you wanted to wear high heels!<br /><br />Many of us have heard of this town in connection with Clint Eastwood and his famous one-liner, “Go ahead, make my day!”<br /><br />Now, however, Carmel is most famous for is its being selected as America’s most dog-friendly resort by the Internet site dogfriendly.com. Carmel has 25 hotels, and other accommodation of varying sizes. <br /><br />More importantly, there are over 40 restaurants, bars and coffee baristas, where dogs are permitted. <br /><br />If you don’t like dogs this is not the place for you. Why? This is because, Carmel even has a leash-free beach – among the very few such remaining beaches in California. <br /><br />Shops and art galleries in this esoteric community welcome dogs with water dishes and biscuits!<br /><br />The inn where Ann stayed had 44 luxury rooms and more than a third of the guests had brought their pets. <br /><br />When guests check in, their dogs are received with a great big bowl of dog biscuits! <br />The rooms are clean with a mattress for the dogs, and no trace of the previous guests’ “pet stops”.<br /><br />For dinner, those guests who don’t go out to the city’s numerous dog-friendly restaurants can opt to stay in the hotel and dine in one of the hotel’s on-site restaurants. This eatery has a special area where dogs are welcome.<br /><br />If you think this is the height of luxury, wait till you hear of ‘Diggedy Dog’, a dog and cat boutique designed for the upscale, well-heeled pets! It stocks run-of-the-mill homemade treats as also toys and pet-strollers and prams!<br /><br />Would you believe the Carmel Church allows pets? There is a floral gallery in Carmel called ‘Twigery’, whose owner made the point about the canine visitors best when he said, “When I die, I want to come back as a Carmel dog!” Indeed, it’s a dog’s life and the life of a man’s best friend is not to be sneezed at, at least in some parts of the world.</p>
