{lifestyle } by C AT H Y B R O O K S
TRAVELING TAILS Tips for vacationing with your pup.
It was July 2011, and I was heading to Sonoma, Cali-
After a good night’s sleep, we began our adventures.
fornia, for my annual two-week digital detox. Leaving all
Checking local maps, I saw there were great hiking trails
technology behind, I rented a small cottage to immerse in
we could reach by foot. For hours, we meandered. We
14 days of reading, writing (by hand), hiking, and enjoying
found a path along the creek and a perfect spot for a picnic
the outdoors. This particular year, I brought my one-year-
lunch. I perched on a rock eating my sandwich and tossed
old labradoodle, Truman.
the ball into and across the creek for Truman. He galloped
We arrived in late afternoon, dropped our things at
through the stream, returning with the ball while spraying
the cottage, and took a leisurely stroll around the neigh-
me with cold water. After one toss, he pulled up sharply
borhood. Streets cast in dappled shade from enormous
and paused, then grabbed the ball and came back. I no-
trees with branches stretching across neatly manicured
ticed a limp. I examined his paw and found a clean slice in
lawns led to an array of gingerbread-perfect Victorian
one pad made by broken glass in the stream.
homes. Residential streets gave way to the main stretch
I bundled him into the car, his paw wrapped in a towel
into downtown with houses beginning to include quaint,
that was quickly soaking through. I drove to the small Vic-
hand-painted signage indicating businesses had taken
torian I remembered from our first day and carried Truman
residence: a real estate broker, accountant, nutritionist,
through the door. Thankfully, it was early, so we were able
and paw prints—a vet’s office. I noted the happy exteri-
to call my vet in San Francisco to have Truman’s current
or, deep green shutters framing beveled glass windows,
vaccination records and health history sent over. Within
a wide porch wrapping alongside a beautiful old wooden
the hour, I emerged with my pup—and the addition of a
door. I mused that if a pet had to see a doctor, this was
few stitches and a sporty green bandage.
about as pleasant a spot as one could imagine. What I didn’t realize at the time was that this business would come in handy the next day. 24 MAY 2019 Las Vegas
What is the point of my story? If I had not happened to see that vet’s office, I would have wasted time trying to figure out where to go, rather than getting Truman to the care
