Furocious
Let’s face it: not everyone is as ecstatic about your dog as you are. Shocked? Thought you might be. It’s no easy challenge to sift through pet-friendly vs. hostile environments while on the road. FUROCIOUS hand-picked some cities, lodging, parks and festivities that might help make your next adventure easier and more memorable for every member of the family. First on our FUROCIOUS canine cavalcade - a high-paw favorite: Savannah.
So beautiful is the City of Savannah, during the Civil War, General Sherman spared it his penchant for pyromania, offering it as a Christmas “gift” to President Lincoln. Georgians, visitors and pooches alike thank General Sherman for his good sense.
On a recent visit there, while standing on the corner of Barnard and West Broughton with Dugan and Barclay, I ran into Ollie B., a Cavellier King Charles Spaniel and spokes-dog for Ollie B. Biscuits Organic Dog Treats. He and his black lab bodyguard, Makers Mark, were making their way down the street with their human, Eric Zimmerman. I was delighted to hear the buzz that Oliver Bentleys Organic Dog Treats, are baked “fresh and in small batches,” right there in Savannah. While our two new canine pals posed for the pupparazzi, I learned Ollie B.’s treats are gluten free, with no wheat, corn, soy or added salt or sugar, additives, preservatives or fillers. Not there? No worries, you can order online at http://www.oliverbentleys.com BTW, we love the handsome Burberry-esque packaging.
After a quick photo op, we headed across the street to Nourish Savannah, handcrafters of natural soaps, body buffers and soy candles where, on a previous trip, I spotted Don’t Bug My Dog – an all-natural bar soap with at least six different oils including rice bran, olive, avocado and jojoba, citronella, cedarwood and a blend of other fresh herbs. One bar and six months of washing two medium-sized dogs spoke volumes. The aroma, easy rinse, non-filmy but rich lather and softer coat sold me forever. The store is heavenly, but if you can’t wait to get there Don’t Bug My Dog is available online at http://www.nourishsavannah.com/ for $6 a bar – a bargain.
I picked up a couple more bars, as did one of my traveling companions, and we were ready for lunch at Goosefeathers where we could dine al fresco with our entourage of canine travel companions. Because outdoor tables were full, we opted for the park just a half block away with larger tables and more room for the dogs.
The Grateful Hound awaited Dugan, Barclay, my brother and his Shih Tzu, Jake. Located on Barnard, Uncle Roger was overly generous in picking out toys for all the boys. Amid the dog-inspired décor from pillows to mugs, brightly hued leashes and well-made toys, I spied a tin of those famous Ollie B. Biscuits (well, it wasn’t like Ollie B. could have flipped us a sample from a fanny pack when we met - moreover, I’m not sure Ollie B. is a fanny-pack kind of dog!). FUROCIOUS opted for the Honey Ginger, which has become a Dugan favorite & even includes honey from the Savannah Bee Co. Next to them a tall tin of Harry Barker Bird Dog Biscuits (a play on the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil theme of the famous Savannah bird girl statue) in Cheese Grits went onto the counter. The airtight freshness tins of doggie deliciousness run $7 and $8 respectively. If you’re in Savannah on February 25, The Grateful Hound is hosting a Yappy Hour from 5-8 PM with complimentary beer and wine along with homemade treats for Rover and specials throughout the store.
Time for some human indulgence, the Savannah Bee Co. (SBC) has a honey-tasting bar with as many as 7 or 8 perfectly gold, amber, wheat, citrine and molasses-colored master elixirs. The best part? Hearing the words: “Your dogs can come inside, we LOVE dogs!” Halleluiah! By the time I got to the register, loaded with honey bottles, the clerk already learned my dogs’ names from an employee who’d met them at the front of the store. Impressive. Even more impressive: SBC has a client who feeds his dogs honeycombs – a practice that began because his yellow lab had severe skin allergies that were raw and bleeding. The customer had heard that local honey helps with people allergies so he thought he would try it. Voila! Now all his canines get it – “with a little peanut butter! He started with a chunk every day at first; now they are better and he just does it a few days a week,” they reported on a recent Facebook posting. http://www.savannahbee.com
Savannah is a city of park squares, abundant with ferns, palms, azaleas and oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Park benches are available for sitting & soaking in the beauty at each one. While there, you might find clever doggie-doo depositories submerged in the ground and operable by foot, which keeps waste cans above ground from being overly odiferous, especially in hot summer months. (Thanks to Ollie B.’s dad, Eric Zimmerman for this tip!).
Bring a blanket, picnic and your favorite furry to Forsythe Park, the most famous of all Savannah squares, where you will meet plenty of friendly dog owners and their canine compadres. At this writing, there are two off-leash dog parks that FUROCIOUS knows about in Savannah, but we did not visit those. Visit http://www.bringfido.com for city-specific info and reviews.
Southern hospitality is alive and well at Old Savannah Tours, the only trolley tour of the city that allows pets. FUROCIOUS highly recommends taking the tour which is integral to immersing oneself in the history and layout of the city for possible further exploration. While on board, remember doggie bags and be watchful of your dog’s interaction with other humans and animals. Even the perkiest of pooches can be spooked while in a moving vehicle with strangers. There are about 7or 8 tours including a Paula Deen, Historic Overview and Ghost. To book tickets (dogs are FREE!), or for more detail, call (800) 517-9007 or visit online at http://www.oldsavannahtours.com.
If you’re travelling to Savannah in the fall anywhere around October 4, the Feast of St. Francis, be sure to stop by the Blessing of the Pets at Troup Square (Habersham and Harris Streets), it’s FREE and organized by the Pet Assistance League of Savannah. I have to admit, pets are so popular in Savannah that while shopping at DC2 (Design Center 2, a must-stop on my tour every time), Dean Caldarelli, owner, interior designer and man with more than a keen eye for just a good dog, asked if he could meet Dugan & Barclay while they waited out front. Turn down a pet-pet? I don’t think so.
FUROCIOUS & Co. did not have the opportunity to overnight in Savannah at a pet-friendly hotel or B&B. It is on the list for our next visit - so if you have suggestions please let us know. There are a handful of seemingly great places – but check the maps; make sure you’ll not be touring too far away if you leave your dogs in the room for any length of time. Rates, rules, pet fees, requirements (such as dog size), crating or non-crating differ from property to property. Always call to confirm, do not assume, that a lodging is still dog-friendly.
While “The Hostess City of the South” is terrier-ific to visit any time of year, April is azalea season and the squares are resplendent in shades of pink, rose, white and lavender blooms the size of your palm. Although many historic and downtown businesses have dog dishes filled with water, it’s helpful to have water on hand for your dog and a travel bowl. The water also helps with any kind of necessary clean-up usually connected with anything remotely dog-oriented.
Until next time, happy trails and wiggly tails! High-paw from your Canine Correspondent.
Added on 2/19 - Pet-friendly Thunderbird Inn has posted a video on You Tube where you can watch dogs ‘in action’ all over Savannah. Get get a glimpse of Ollie B. and Maker’s Mark and their furry friends at City Market, Forsythe Park and a host of other exciting locales in Savannah. This is one cute video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSo-pqeuhYc&utm_source=&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=Nature
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