Venice, Italy

One of our biggest regrets is not taking our dog to Venice with us because it has a super dog-friendly atmosphere! Since the vast majority of Venice is made up of narrow walkways and stepped bridges, the streets are essentially only accessible to pedestrians. As such, we mostly saw dogs walking off-leash and often without any owners in sight. There are a number of stray dogs and cats in the city and some of the local people take care of them (below is a cat house built for the local strays).

Many shop and restaurant owners had their pets off-leash and interacting with customers as well, so we imagine most of the restaurants (especially those with patios, which make up the mjaority) are dog friendly. If not, there are many delicious pizza and panini take away restaurant options thorughout the city.

As with most cities, there are many Venetian attractions that we imagine dogs are banned from such as art galleries and museums. We however spent most of our weekend there walking along the canals and there was plenty to see and do outdoors.

Although Venice appears to be pet-friendly, accommodation with your pet is not guaranteed as some hotels/hostels or apartment landlords are nervous about accepting pets. Booked.net however currently lists just under 200 pet-friendly hotels in Venice! At the present moment, we have very little first hand information about pet-friendly accommodation so we would love to hear your experiences.

We stayed at the Locanda Acquavita which was a pleasant hotel but not pet-friendly (one of the reasons we did not bring our dog with us). It is located in the Cannaregio (East) region of Venice and accesible from the Fondamente Nuove port. In Venice you walk everywhere and nothing is ever more than a 1 hour walk away in Venice and we felt we were close enough to everythign we wanted to see. The room was fully equipped and clean and a simple breakfast was served in the room every day. There is a good non-touristy Italian restaurant 2 doors away from the hotel and a supermarket less than 2 minute walk from the front door.

Leipzig, Germany

(last updated November 2009)

Everywhere we have been in Germany it has been extremely pet-friendly, especially for dogs. Leipzig is no exception and dogs are pretty much found everywhere!

As a general rule in Leipzig, dogs are allowed (on-leash) in:

• Restaurants
• Coffee shops
• Bars and Pubs
• Beer gardens
• Stores, including department stores and malls
• Public Transit (Trams, Trains, Buses) *
• Virtually all outdoor public areas
  

*dogs must pay a child's fare to ride public transport UNLESS they are carried in a bag. Large dogs must be muzzled on request

Dogs are NOT allowed in:

• grocery stores
• bakeries
• stores where food is sold (ie: DM pharmacy)
• movie theatres (independant movie theatres may make exceptions, call beforehand to inquire)
• Leipzig's one and only Karaoke bar (zum kakadu)
• Leipzig Zoo
  

Leipzig is really dog-safe and we have never heard of (nor had) anyone stealing or hurting dogs that were tied up oustide a store (like a supermarket). There are very few/no stray dogs in Leipzig, however one friend of ours, returned from her shopping to find her tied-up dog making sweet love to a female dog that was off-leash and in heat. So be aware if your dog is not spayed or neutered.

In shopping malls if you must enter a dog-unfriendly store , you can tie your dog up to the nearest post INSIDE the mall.

Always have poop bags with you, there are city officials that can stop you if they feel you are breaking any of the dog rules (e.g.: dog off-leash in an on-leash area) and they generally will ask you if you have poop bags with you. Plus, its just common courtesy.

Hotels
Several hotels allow dogs however our experience is limited in this area as we live in the city. Generally hotels do accept dogs so if you find somewhere you would like to stay then call or email in advance to see if its allowed; it never hurts to ask (and please leave us a comment to this post or send us an email so we can add the info to this entry, thanks!) Booked.net currently lists 17 hotels in Leipzig that allow pets, but the only one we know first hand is:

• Best Western Premier Viktor's Residenz Hotel: this is a pretty old-style European hotel located right beside the hauptbahnhof (main train station) and a 2 minute walk from the city center. Their website states a 10 euro charge per pet per night applies. Georgiring 13, 04103, Leipzig, +49 (0) 3 41/68 66-0, info.leipzig@victors.bestwestern.de

Dog Parks
In Leipzig, most park areas require dogs to be on-leash, however, there are many areas that are designated off-leash with signs that read "hundewiese". These areas are great places to meet other dog owners and socialize your dog, especially on weekends (see some examples below in "best dogs parks").

In most cases, even if you dog is not on-leash in other areas, no one will say anything (especially if you are a responsible owner and have control of your dog and clean up after him/her).

The following map points out some of the best dog-friendly parks in the 'zig:

View Leipzig Dog Parks in a larger map

• Rosental: Rosental Park has a huge off leash dog area surrounded by forest at its westernmost side. Its a great place for your dog to learn to be off leash since even if he/she runs away there is no nearby road. We have never had any problems or seen any vicious dog fights and always feel totally safe with our dog at this park. As an added bonus, the Leipzig Zoo's Kiwara savanah area borders the human park (just beside the dog park) so on your way to and from Rosental you can see giraffes, zebras and other African "wildlife".

• Cospudener See (aka the Cossi) is a man-made lake just south of the city. The lake is 11km around which makes for a terrific jog/walk/bike ride with your 4-legged companion. Alternatively, you can take your dog to the dog beach ("hundestrand" - "hoond-de-shtrund") where (s)he can play in the water and on the shore with other dogs off-leash. The only caveat is that nudism (FKK - Freikörperkultur aka free body culture) is alive and well in Leipzig and the dog park borders (and blends with) the nudist beach, so prudes be warned. To get there, take tram #3 from the Leipzig main train station (hauptbahnhof) to the Huttenstrasse stop. Then turn the corner and go to the bus stop, where you will pick up bus #65 and get off at the Cospudener See, Nordstrand stop (use this LVB link to check times of departure). When you get off the bus and walk straight to the beach you will be at the Hacienda strand (beach). From the Hacienda restaurant, walk rightwards (as you face the lake) and at the Western end of the beach (just keep walking till there is no more beach) that is the dog beach.
  

• Leipzig Wildpark. Tucked away in a large forested area is the Leipzig Wildpark ("Vild-park"), a small city zoo with free admission and animals from Europe and North America. You can take your dog through the park with you and its open 365 days of year and is quite beautiful in the winter when it snows. The entire forested area is lovely to walk through and the trails are extremely easy to follow. The main paths are primarily used for cycling so it is not advised to have your dog off-leash in those areas (and certainly not in the Wildpark itself). Take tram #9 to the Wildpark stop.

View Larger Map

Dog-Friendly Restaurants/Pubs
The following map points out some of our favorite dog friendly restaurants and pubs in Leipzig. There are some very cool restaurants/bars/beer gardens such as Substanz (See map) where dogs are allowed off-leash to roam around and meet other pups as well as patrons but this is completely up to the owner's discretion. In this case, follow the lead of others.:

View Leipzig Restaurants in a larger map

• Shiki Sushi The amazing staff at Shiki Sushi will happily make you a large vegetarian sushi platter for however many people you want (15 euros for a good sized portion, 30 euros for two and so on). They have always been so nice to our dog there and have even made him maki on occasion when its a slow day. Make sure to ask for "vegetarisch" ("veh-gay-tar-ish") and "ohne fisch" ("oh-ne fish") (and "ohne eier" ("oh-ne aye-er") if you are vegan) as most Germans who call themselves vegetarian still consume fish. Casual dining. Marktgalerie, 04109, Leipzig (in the Breuniger passage and just off of Barfussgäschen)
  

• Sol y Mar One of the restaurants with the best atmosphere's in the 'zig. Dogs are allowed at the this restaurant no questions asked however, in the area where you are served in bed, dogs are not allowed on the bed, they are permitted to lay beside you on the floor however. Casual/buisiness casual dining. Gottschedstraße 4, 04109 (just 20 meters west of the city center)

• Le Telegraph This restaurant in the city center has some of the yummiest breakfasts to start your day and supplies newspapers from around the globe for your morning reading pleasure. Lunch and dinner also served but they really excel at breakfast! Casual Dining. Dittrichring 18-20, 04109
  

• La Grotta Palazzese has the best pizza in Leipzig and the owner is a big dog lover too. Over 100 wood-burning stone-oven pizzas to choose from plus other Italian fare and a dessert chef who always has some amazing confection to satisfy your sweet tooth. Casual Dining. Ratsfreischulstrasse 6-8, 04109

• McCormack's ballroom hosts a ENGLISH pubquiz on Tuesday nights starting at 8:30pm. The trivia game usually goes until 11pm and you can get some good food and drink at cheap prices and do one of the few English activities there is to do in Liepzig. (note: pubquiz is sometimes off over the summer months) Kurt Eisner Str. 43 (not to be confused with McCormack's Pub)

• Barfussgäschen. This small street just off of the Marktplatz in the Leipzig city center ("zentrum") is a great place to grab a drink and/or some food when visiting the city. Kildare's Irish City Pub and 100Wasser are two of our favorites but all the establishments have something fun to offer. Most of the year you can sit outside on the front patios as heaters and blankets make it tolerable even when the tempertaure dips.

• Stelzenhaus. This "stilt house" right on the Karl Heine Kanal is a real treat west of the city center. The food is exquisite and the atmosphere modern and soothing. Business casual attire is best for this fine dining experience. There is a map on their website if you care to tram and then walk there, but easiest for visitors is to take a taxi which will drop you at the Stelzenhaus front door (~10 euro with tip from the city center). Weißenfelser Straße 65, 04229

• Brunch. If you are in Leipzig on a Sunday then you must do as the Leipziggers do and grab a brunch buffet! Some of our favorites are at the Südbrause (Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 154, 04277) or the Kanal 28 cafe (Am Kanal 28, 04179) which is in the neighbourhood of Plagwitz in the West of the city, but well worth the cab ride there.
  

Only Sorta Dog-Friendly but worth a mention

• Zest This is our favorite restaurant in Leipzig. It is vegan and fusion cusine but almost every meat-eater we have taken there has fallen in love with the chef. Sadly, however, no pets allowed inside. Luckily though, during warm weather they have an outdoor patio, in which case you can dine outside with your dog :) Casual/buisness casual dress for this fine dining experience. Bornaische Str. 54, 04277, 0341 2319126

View Zest Restaurants in a larger map

• Basamo One of our most favorite places to hang out. Jerry offers up great Moazambican food, an amazing selection of drinks and the best Afro-carribean music around. The main restaurant/bar has 2 floors of chill out space where dogs are allowed. The basement houses the "dance cave" which alternates between Reggae & African music nights and Hip-hop & RnB nights (referred to as "black music" in Germany). Jerry will let you bring your dog downstairs but its dark and some of the clientele are easily freaked by our canine companions, so stick to upstairs if you have your pet with you. Casual dining. Nürnberger Straße 11, 04103, 0341/960 76 54

• Kaimung a great sit down & take out Thai/Asian fast food restaurant located near Augustusplatz in the city center, but because they share floor space with a bakery, no dogs allowed inside. During the summer you can eat outside and otherwise just run in for takeout after tying your dog up outside. For take out ask for your order "zum mit nehmen" ("tsoom mit nay-men"). Grimmaische Str. 25, 04109
  

Just skip it

• Kaiser Maximillian - possibly the most overated restaurant in the 'Zig.

Veterinary care & health concerns

We have been taking all of our pets to Dr. Sabine Zimmermann-Kuhn since we have been in Leipzig. Her English is quite good and she has always been very friendly and professional with us. Taking your dog to the vet is really cheap in Leipzig (at least compared to Canadian/American standards) so if you have any problems with your pet you should not hesitate to contact Dr. Zimmermann or anyone else who is recommended to you. Veterinarian is "tierartz" ("teer-art-st") in German. note: We have found that German veterinarians are not as forthcoming with possible tests and treatments as North american vets, as such, we find saying something along the lines of "money is not an issue" will open up possibilities to you when faced with few treatment options. 

Lyme disease (commonly referred to as Hundemalaria (dog malaria) in German) exists in Leipzig and throughout Germany. It is transmitted by ticks which are incredibly common here, so make sure to have your dog properly treated against ticks with your treatment of preference. Even with regular use of frontline medication, our dog generally picks up a tick now and then, so be vigilant and check your dog for ticks.
Heartworm (a common concern in North America) does not exist in Germany but does in other parts of Southern Europe, so plan accordingly.


The Leipzig Tierheim is one of the best run animal shelters I have ever visited. Please consider adopting from them if you are staying in Leipzig for an extended period of time or donating to keep their program and facilities running.

Flying with your Pet

LAST UPDATED: July 19, 2009

The various airlines worldwide have different rules and regulations regarding traveling with your pet based on their company regulations, insurance guidelines, and also the country specific mandates on the import/export of animals. At Travelling Pets, we regard our pets as living members of our lives, however, you will find that with most of these airlines, pets are considered baggage (so sad). Therefore, if you are having difficulty locating the pet information for an airline, start with the baggage section. That being said, we have focused our efforts on providing information and promoting airlines that respect pets as more than a suitcase. We have also provided the details of airlines that provide pet travel in the cargo hold as well as shipping companies that we feel will respect your loved one, as this method of transport may be a necessary last resort for some travellers.

As a general rule, any service pets (i.e. guide dogs) are permitted on all airlines and we will only indicate airlines that do not allow them.

This post will be updated on a regular basis with new companies and new information. This site should be used as a guide. All information should be checked on the individual airline and government sites for country specific pet travel requirements to ensure that the information is correct and current.



Airline Overview:

	Air Berlin: Pets in Cabin: YES, 6kg, carrier: (cm) 55 x 40 x 20, 20 EUR one way Pets in Hold: YES, over 6kg, 30 EUR one way (short/med-haul), 60 EUR one way for flights of 3,000+ miles
	Air Canada: Pets in Cabin: YES, 10kg, carrier: (cm) 23 x 40 x 55, $50 CAD for CAN/US, $100 CAD International Pets in Hold: YES, 32.5kg, must stand, turn around and lie down
	Lufthansa: Pets in Cabin: YES, 8kg (incl. carrier), (cm) 20 x 40 x 55 Pets in Hold: YES, details at Lufthansa Reservation Office

Airline Details:


Air Berlin

Pets in Cabin: YES, 6kg (incl. carrier), carrier: (cm) 20 x 40 x 55
Pets in Hold: YES, over 6kg, carrier: animal must stand, turn around and lie down

Pets can be carried either in the cabin or in the hold, depending on the animal's weight and size. Pets must be carried in an enclosed container that is leak-proof and escape-proof. They must have enough space to be able to stand in their normal position. They must also have space to lie down. The pet carrier must be provided by the passenger. Early registration is required. The carriage of pets can be registered by contacting the Air Berlin Service Centre any time up to 48 hours before departure. As space is limited, please contact the service centre before booking to find out whether there is still enough room on your preferred flight for your pet.

Pets weighing up to 6 kg

You can take dogs and cats with you into the cabin if they are in a suitable pet carrier (max. measurements 55 x 40 x 20 cm, adequate ventilation) that weighs no more than 6 kg with contents. The animal’s head is not allowed to protrude from the pet carrier nor is the animal permitted to leave the carrier at any time during the flight. On no account are passengers allowed to place the pet carrier on a seat, not even if an additional seat has been purchased.

Pets weighing more than 6 kg

Pets weighing more than 6 kg including the pet carrier are transported in the hold. They must also be in a suitable pet carrier. Please note that all carriers used to transport animals in the hold must have a water/feed container that can be filled from outside. The water/feed container must not be filled during the flight.

Air Canada

Pets in Cabin: YES, 10kg, carrier: (cm) 23 x 40 x 55
Pets in Hold: YES, 32.5kg, carrier: animal must stand, turn around and lie down


Air Canada never used to allow pets in the cabin which was very confusing since other Star Alliance companies such as Lufthansa allowed them. For instance, if you wanted to book a flight from Frankfurt to Toronto and you used the Lufthansa website, you had to make sure that the flight number started with LH to ensure that it was actually a Lufthansa plane or you would find out at the airport that your pet could not board the Air Canada plane (discovered through personal experience).

Thankfully, it looks like Air Canada is trying out the "pets in the cabin" system starting July 1, 2009. It seems to be a slightly complicated system over other airlines with pre-registration and a whole plethora of rules and regs but in the end, your little buddy will be able to fly with you under the seat in front of you.

This is a new feature for Air Canada and we presently have little experience with this service. We welcome your comments.


Pets in Cabin:

• 10 kg max
• carrier: airline approved to be able to fit under seat (cm) 23 x 40 x 55, leak-proof, ventilated, hard or soft ok.
  
• pet should be able to sit up and turn around in the carrier
  
• has to be an Air Canada or Jazz flight
• only 1 pet per person
• charge: $50 CAD for Canada/US; $100 CAD International
  
• must pre-register (only a certain number of pets are allowed per flight): must be done within 24 hrs of booking your flight
  
• when you pre-register, you must give details to agent (weight of pet, dimensions of carrier)
• must arrive 30 minutes prior to suggested check-in time
• pet must be kept in carrier under the seat for entire flight (cannot be let out)
• carrier counts as your one carry-on item

Pets not allowed in Cabin on flights to and from Australia, Columbia (no cats; only small dogs allowed), Hawaii, Hong Kong, Jamaica, New Zealand, Peru and the United Kingdom.


Pets in Hold:

• must contact Air Canada Reservations (1-888-247-2262) within 24 hrs of your booking
• pet must be pre-registered
• when you pre-register, you must give details to agent (weight of pet, dimensions of carrier)
• pet and carrier must have a combined weight of less than 32.5 kg
  
• no more than 2 pets per person
• pets over 14 kg must have their own separate carrier
  
• 2 pets not weighing more than 14 kg each may travel together in same carrier
• carrier must be hard plastic, leakproof and with ventilation holes
  
• pet must be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably
  

More details are available on the pet page of the Air Canada website. It is also important to check out the country specific details of required age of your pet as well as vaccination and medical history.


Lufthansa

Pets in Cabin: YES, 8kg (incl. carrier), carrier: (cm) 20 x 40 x 55
Pets in Hold: YES, details when you contact Lufthansa Reservation Office

There is a fee that must be paid for your pet to travel which is paid at the airport once you have checked-in. As a rough guide, an 8kg dog and carrier travelling from Toronto to Frankfurt is about $200 CAD each way. You must go through the same procedure on your return flight (check-in, then pay). Arriving at the airport a few minutes ahead of the suggested time for check-in is a good idea since in most cases, to pay for your pet, you must stand in a different line after you have checked-in (most times it is the excess or bulkly luggage counter that can be very slow). There you will be issued your boarding passes. Also, Lufthansa is quite strict about the "in-cabin" weight of the dog and carrier not exceeding 8kg.


Pets in Cabin:

• 8 kg max (incl. carrier)
  
• carrier must be airline approved to be able to fit under seat (cm) 20 x 40 x 55, leak-proof, ventilated, hard or soft ok.
  
• pet should be able to sit up and turn around in the carrier
  
• charge varies (8kg "pet & carrier" travelling from Toronto to Frankfurt is approximately: $200 CAD each way)
  
• must contact Lufthansa Reservation Office within 24 hrs of booking your flight (only a certain amount of pets are allowed per flight; if there is already too many pets on that flight, Lufthansa will cancel your ticket free of charge provided you have contacted them within the 24 hr period). During this contact you must give details to agent (weight of pet, dimensions of carrier)
• must arrive 30 minutes prior to suggested check-in time
• pet must be kept in carrier under the seat for entire flight (cannot be let out)
• carrier counts as your one carry-on item

Pets in Hold:

• must contact Lufthansa Reservation Office for information and to provide details to agent (weight of pet, dimensions of carrier; must provide your own carrier that complies with the relevant IATA [International Air Transport Association])
• carrier must be hard plastic, leakproof and with ventilation holes
  
• pet must be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably
  

More details are available on the pet page of the Lufthansa website. It is also important to check out the country specific details of required age of your pet as well as vaccination and medical history.