When I first got my Yorkshire terrier last January, I couldn’t imagine going anywhere without her. It was easy to do, too. Chela was about 2 pounds and slept most of the time.
In a tiny black cotton handbag with her furry little face sticking out, the two of us ventured everywhere – sometimes, admittedly, to places where dogs were not allowed.
My justification? Because Yorkies have hair, not fur, Chela is hypo-
allergenic so she wouldn’t cause
allergic reactions to others. Plus she doesn’t bark.
We’ve hung out many Saturday afternoons at The Tattered Cover. We’ve dined, covertly, with friends at D’Corazon, Mezcal, Fontana Sushi and a host of other restaurants. We’ve shopped at Whole Foods, Avanza supermarket and King Soopers.
We’ve been to the Mayan, Pavilions and other movie theaters. (She prefers foreign and indie films.) She is content at art galleries, sitting on my lap when I get a pedicure, and hanging out at coffeehouses.
This Halloween I dressed up as Dorothy so I could take her along with me to a friend’s costume party. (She was a convincing Toto.)
But at no time have I ever considered her, or my bigger dog Chewy, an “accessory.” Apparently, the new arm candy for women isn’t a hunky man, or even a Fendi. It’s a toy dog.
But like any fashion-forward item, dogs-in-handbags run the risk of being discarded next season. That’s about how long Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, seemed to last. The party hopper reportedly got tired of carrying her around and got a lighter pet: a ferret.
People like her hurt the image of pet owners who view their dogs as part of their family.
Those who would lump us in the same category don’t understand that the unconditional love of a pet goes both ways.
I miss my dogs when I go away, so if my destination is in driving distance they come along. They loved the Monte Sagrado spa in Taos. Chela had a grand time in New York this July. (Little dogs can travel in the cabin of a plane; Chewy exceeds the weight requirement to travel in cabin, and I can’t imagine subjecting him to the cruelty of traveling in a kennel along with checked baggage.)
Our bond is strong. With a dog you can act like a goofy kid. We run in wild circles at the off-leash park, play fetch, and when I’m not in the mood to play, Chewy and Chela have each other.
Dog lovers understand our love, even if they don’t understand the appeal of itty bitty dogs.
It’s part of the canine evolution.
Dogs have gone from pack animals living in caves and other makeshift dens to domesticated pets who sleep with their owners. And now lap dogs are getting a higher level of respect. In many countries in Europe it’s acceptable to bring your dog with you to dinner at a fancy restaurant. During a recent trip to Barcelona, dogs were everywhere: at bars, in tapas restaurants.
While Denver may not be the cosmopolitan city that Barcelona is, it has the potential to turn into a dog city that allows people to bring their dogs with them to more places. It would be a smart business move considering that Colorado is such a dog-friendly state.
For two years in a row, Denver has been ranked as the No. 1 healthiest city for pets in the U.S. by the Purina Pet Institute.
The institute bases rankings on everything from vet-to-pet ratios to pet laws to incidence of dog obesity. In some city parks you’ll see more people walking dogs than pushing baby strollers. Heck, at some posh pet stores you can buy a stroller for your dog, although I think that’s extreme.
But aside from restaurant patios (Dixons is a favorite, and it always offer my dogs biscuits), there are few eateries in Denver that allow dogs. The lounge at Mirepoix in Cherry Creek is a terrific exception.
I know that will change, though, as businesses realize that the canine evolution is unstoppable.
I’m going to create a list of dog-friendly establishments and post it on my blog. Have tips? Send information my way.
Cindy Rodríguez’s column appears Tuesdays and Sundays. Read Cindy’s blog at denverpostbloghouse.com/rodriguez
Leave a voice message at 303-954-1211 or e-mail her at crodriguez@denverpost.com
