Perhaps fodors would be interested in offering mike a stint at hosting his own fordors forum similar to the recent Solo Travel one.

I just read the reviews for this book on Amazon - what a hit! I love it! I'm going to order it right now. Why can't this country just chill about dogs? I have always wanted to order a dog bakery/cafe - but the health dept won't permit it. Oh well.

I will look forward to reading this book.
Mike, someone I know wrote a beautiful book about her kinship with her dog.
Have you read:
"A Pack of Two,"
by Carlolyn Knapp
She died in 2002

I just read the summary of your book on Amazon.com. I look forward to buying it and reading it. My husband and I are proud owners of a Yorkshire Terrier. Miles is our second Yorkie since our other companion Higgins passed away last May. I have seperation anxiety when I leave my pets, so I look forward to reading about your adventure.

Tough to transport the retired racing Greyhounds, 'tho they would love the travel.
M

The Review of the Book for those with reservations about Mike traveling with Ella


http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/d...sbn=0385338511

BTilke, I place you in the the exemption category of "moving" and of course, you would take your canine family member in that case... I just can't stand people who just want to subject their pet to such unnecessary stress on a whim - and why? certainly not because it is the best choice for the animal.

We don't board our pets either - they are at home in their own familiar environment, with a friend staying over.

Mike, I really look forward to reading your book! I would like nothing more than to be able to travel in Europe with my dog, or I should say dogs. I remember my first trip to Switzerland how I longed to have my Husky with me on the beautiful hiking trails.

Be sure to let us know when you will be on Animal Planet.

Thanks, all, for your interest in Ella and her travels in Europe. Let me answer some of your questions. . .

PLANE: As a certified service animal, Ella traveled in the cabin of the plane (and slept on her own green travel mat). In her younger days, she traveled domestically in a cargo crate, and I don't think that option should be categorically dismissed for short flights. But I wouldn't do it all the way to Europe.

FAMILIARITY: I worried about this concept, as you'll discover when you read the book. But, as one perceptive poster noted, I came to conclude that the pack is more important to dogs than anything else. Ella didn't care if she was dining in a Parisian restuarant or napping on a Vienese trolley, so long as she was with her family.

PACK OF TWO: Read it. Liked it. (But I like "Ella in Europe" even more.)

ANIMAL PLANET: The network is developing a show based on the book, starring Ella -- with her dad as the second banana. It will be filmed over the summer and debut in primetime as a weekly series sometime in the fall. In the meantime, if you can stand seeing the least cute memeber of our pack, you can watch me every weekend on FoxSports, where I do "Poker Superstars."

TOP TIP: Traveling in Europe with an American dog is a real revelation. All the hang-ups we have in the US are absent there. It's canine nirvana. My advice: Enjoy it while it lasts!

Mike, I will look forward to seeing you and Ella on Animal Planet! (And of course, now we are all going to watch Poker Superstars just to see you!)

Alas, our 2.5 year old lab cries when he travels in his crate in the car, although he is very happy in his crate in the house. So he is boarded when we travel, and he loves the kennel because the owner treats him like her own, and we love her for it. Thank you, Glenda!

ttt

Barndoggie:

Thanks for looking out for us, but Michael is posting in the forums at the invitation of Fodor's.

thanks,
Peter Kay
fodors.com

I stand corrected and am woman enough to admit when I am wrong!!My little dog"das klein hunde" will be writing a book if he ever lives in the states. It will be called "Living in the states sucks from a dogs perspective"!! Yes, I am blessed that my dog goes everywhere and I do mean everywhere with me. Getting married in Copenhagen,honeymooning in Positano, my crappy job,the dentist, eating out, shopping, even my hairdresser!! 5* hotel breakfast rooms, etc. Spike the dog @ the good life.com

Mike,

I read the article about you and Ella in Delta's flight magazine. Been wanting to get your book and now that I've been reminded, I will!

We travel a lot. Have two standard poodles who go to camp when we're gone. I thought about calling them service dogs but they're so ill behaved and spoiled that we'd all end up in some horrid foreign jail!

Also, Max, Lucy and I are all looking forward to the show on our fave network, Animal Planet.

Judy

I brought up Fodors and saw your book there so I clicked on it and read the summary. I wanted to buy it after reading your post. After seeing Ella sweet face on the cover how could you not want too!! It has now become priorty. Mall is closed tomorrow, then I am off Monday, but it will be first thing Tuesday morning on my break.

If fodor's says it's ok for mike to talk about his book, why can't posters talk about their B&Bs that they own???
I don't have one but I know several posters who do.

barndoggies, Trolly dollies?

>If fodor's says it's ok for mike to talk about his book, why can't posters talk about their B&Bs that they own???<

Rhetorical question, right? It's Fodors' playground and they make the rules.

I like the "commercial free" zone here. If the editors want to change it, they certainly will, but I think the vibrancy of exchange will be greatly diminished.

Nothing against Mike and his book. A better intro would have been to say that he'd been invited by Fodors to post here and solicit questions.

thanks rockhopper, I agree with what you say.

Mike,
I think your book sounds terrific and so does the show. I wish I could travel with our German shepherd, Tasha, but unfortunately she isn't a service dog. I miss her so much when I'm away, but it's great that dogs are so welcome in Europe and I've met so many nice people and have had so many good experiences because of them.