We don’t have to mope around at home. Let’s go out!
© Dor-riss/iStock

An Open Letter to the City of Paris

Paris, France

Dear Officials of the City of Paris and Regional Transport (RATP) Directors,

We, the dogs of this beautiful City of Light (having formed a more perfect union known as Les Chiens de Paris), know we are lucky to live in France, and especially in its romantic capital.

We are able to dine elegantly with our humans.
© Meredith Mullins

We can prance proudly by the Seine. We are able to dine at Michelin-starred restaurants. We are often fashionably dressed in Gucci or Chanel. We can savor the delicate nuances of pâté and filet mignon.

We can paws when we feel like it at the iconic Paris sites.
© Chris Mueller/iStock

We can play at historic monuments and enjoy the layers of history in this fine city. Our humans give us effusive attention and affection and let us meet new friends under the café tables.

We often meet new friends under the tables of the outdoor cafés.
© Sheron Long

Laws and recommendations have been passed with us in mind. Our humans are required to clean up after us in the street (although sometimes they “forget” and leave our calling card behind. We apologize that this results in unsuspecting tourists cursing when they hear that telltale merde squish).

Did someone say “Doggie Bag?”
© Meredith Mullins & Charlie Meagher

Since 2016, restaurants must provide doggie bags upon request (see OIC Moments story), but, to be honest, we rarely benefit from the contents of these “dining remainder bags” or “le gourmet bags” as they are sometimes called.

We watch as our humans polish off the contents of those bags for themselves . . . and we virtuously forgive them for this faux paw.

The public transport folks said we had to be small and travel in a box. Sad.
© Laures/iStock

A Review of Our Manifesto

We have been allowed to travel on public transport as long as we are small in stature. The officials said we had to fit in a box or sack or handbag (a little humiliating and confining, if truth be told), but for many years they did not exactly specify just how big that box could be.

Well, some of us didn’t quite fit in a box (much less a froufrou flowered box).
Does this box make me look fat?
© Cynoclub/iStock

The rising tension caused by this discrimination against the larger members of our species inspired us to rise up. We planned protests (mainly consisting of tugging at our leashes when we wanted to descend into the metro).

We stared longingly at the metro signs to communicate our yearnings, our needs, and the injustice of the situation. If only we could be part of the everyday transport rhythm. Life is ruff.

This is life on the metro if you’re small and cute.
© Meredith Mullins

After all, dogs have been allowed on the metros of Barcelona for years. The stray dogs of Moscow know exactly how the metro system works; and an elite group are daily commuters, sensing precisely where to get on and off and which transport cars are going to yield the best treat-bearing humans.

We can go anywhere in the train stations as long as we’re on a leash.
© Sheron Long

We have learned that, in many cities, dogs are allowed on public transportation as long as they fit in a bag. In New York and Los Angeles, the bags get bigger and bigger.

And we have for years now been allowed on the French RER and SNCF trains, as long as we were well-behaved (and on a leash). (Of course, service dogs have always been allowed.)

We demand égalité for the bigger dogs of Paris. But please don’t try to stuff us in boxes.
© Malamooshi/iStock

So, Paris, what’s up with the metro? Please paws and reflect on the concept of egalité. We don’t mean to hound you, but know that we deserve better.

Paris is a progressive city, with a dramatic history of successful revolution. We demand our rights.

Sí, se puede. Oui, nous pouvons. Yes, we can!
© Meredith Mullins

Some Months Later . . . Yes, We Can

Today, we are writing to thank you, RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens), for changing the rules this past spring and allowing the larger members of our group to travel on the metro. We bark our appreciation that equal rights have triumphed once again. Sí, se puede. Oui, nous pouvons. Yes, we can.

Metro or Bust! I’m Jack (Jacques), and I’m ready and legal.
© Meredith Mullins & Charlie Meagher

We understand that we have to purchase a ticket, but we appreciate the discounted price. For the record, a discount is certainly warranted since, generally, we are relegated to sitting on the floor. Not a problem. We are well practiced.

We love relaxing on the metro floor.
© Miss Niss/iStock

And please allow us to call the “children’s-ticket” discount something more appropriate since we are not children per se—perhaps “arf-price”? (Do our puppies get “arf-arf-price”?)

We also understand that we must agree not to disturb other passengers or get them dirty (when has THAT ever happened?). And we know that we have to be on a leash and muzzled.

Do I look like I need to be muzzled?
© DMT

Muzzled? Really? That makes us look so vicious. What do they think we’re going to do? Smother someone with bises (kisses)? We have asked our union to revisit this stipulation in the near future.

Vive la révolution de chiens! Success. Travel partners with our humans furever.
© Rohappy/iStock

Although fighting for rights sometimes takes time, we are pleased that this particular new freedom has been afforded to us. We breathe a collective sigh of relief and say loudly and proudly, “Oh, I see, we can be treated with respect.”

We predict, with all due humility, that we will make a charming addition to metro life. There will be many travel tales yet to come. This change has given us a new leash on life.

Merci mille fois.

With best wishes furever,

The Dogs of Paris (especially the big ones)

An appropriate celebration at the Arc de Triomphe—a triumph of rights
© Mauinow1/iStock

The U.S. celebrated National Dog Day this past Saturday, August 26. We say Bon Fête to our French contingency.

Thank you to contributors to this post: Mervyn Rothstein, the Kellers (and Jack), the Mehay/Herrick’s (and Ollie), DMT (and Pookie), and Sheron Long (and Chula).

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