I just returned home from Paris, one of the most dog-friendly cities in the world.  Dogs in Paris are welcome everywhere–and I have seen them everywhere, including in some of the finer Parisian restaurants.

It seems that every little elderly lady has a tiny little dog under her arm as she strolls about the city.  The pups sit on laps in the most stylish cafes, walk in parks where people aren’t allowed on the lawns, and travel on the buses and the Metro with their owners.

At Carmel Beach – by SuperFantastic via Flickr

As I returned home to my own town in seaside California, I walked along the beach, glad to be home and appreciating the beauty of our pristine coastline.  It came to me, while watching dogs chasing Frisbees and tennis balls at the water’s edge, that Carmel and Paris have something very much in common; Carmel may be the second most dog-friendly town in the world!

Rooms Available, Pets Welcome

It all seems to have begun years ago with Doris Day.  Ms. Day is a serious animal lover and animal rights advocate.  She is known in Carmel for her love and protective stance toward animals.  Her hotel, The Cypress Inn, in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, has always welcomed pets.  People from all over the world check in with dogs in tow, heading up the stairs to their rooms.  Pets are also welcome in the open cocktail lounge and on the outdoor patio.  If Health Department regulations didn’t prohibit, I’m sure the four-legged companions would be at owners’ side in the formal dining room.

Every once in awhile my husband takes me to The Cypress Inn for my “doggie fix.”  Since we travel so often, this is not a good time to adopt a dog, but I so miss having a dog around the house!  I’ve never lived without a pet pooch, so when I start to make noises about bringing a new puppy home, we head for the Cypress Inn where pet parents are more than happy to have me fawn over their beloved puppies.

Paw Prints In The Sand

At Carmel Beach – by bradleyolin via Flickr

Most beaches along the California coastline require that dogs are walked on leashes.  Not on Carmel Beach, where dogs are allowed to run free on the beach and to swim unteathered.  The only requirement is that owners clean up after their pet; poop-pickup-bags are provided on the walk above the beach.

Happy dogs off leash at Carmel Beach – by Living in Monrovia via Flickr

At the top of the steps up from the beach, directly under the water spigot is a water bowl for thirsty dogs who might have lapped up a bit of saltwater.  The most obvious ode to canines in Carmel is the Dog Fountain in Carmel Plaza Shopping Center.  Here, your thirsty furry friend can stop for a drink while you sip a glass of wine on the Plaza’s outdoor cafe.

by Chika via Flickr

Next time someone mentions Paris as the most dog-crazy place in the world, you might point them toward Carmel on the central coast of California.  Canine welcoming and much closer to home than Paris!