Dora's Road Trip

[MCRoberts]

From Spring, TX to Wyoming. 1st stop: Clayton,NM. Best Western Kokopelli Lodge very pet friendly, even gave Dora a welcome doggie bag with treats, they only charged $10.00 a day for her. After that stop most of the hotels we stayed every night were Super 8, Motel 6, and Holiday Inn. Every hotel is different about their pet policy and they have so many rooms designated for pets or they put you in a smoking room...the easiest way to work that issue on the road is to use your GPS or phone (web) and call ahead of time if you don't have reservations in advance and ask if they are pet friendly. All state parks are pet friendly and as long as they are keep on the leash they can walk around with the owner, except inside stores and restaurants of course. I spent a lot of years in Germany with the Navy and I remember eating at a restaurant and the guy at the next table had a big dog laying under the table, and that was very common to see all the time, I wish we could get to that point here in the states. I'm sure there will be less depressed people walking around and less suicides, owning a dog makes your life complete.
Picture#1: Royal Gorge #2:Buffalo Bill Historical Center #3: Yellowstone #4: Devil's Tower

[enchilila]

What a great trip you had planned out! I bet it was a lot of fun! Your baby looks so cute and happy in the pics! I am so envious of you and your family taking this trip. This is one that my husband and I have talked about for quite awhile. We even bought an RV so we could take Betty Boop with us. Maybe one day.

[gemy]

Sounds like a great trip. I too wish there were more places that allowed pets in. It is so lovely to sit at an outdoor cafe with your pups, have a coffee, enjoy the sunshine,etc.

[MCRoberts]

Originally Posted by enchilila

This is one that my husband and I have talked about for quite awhile. We even bought an RV so we could take Betty Boop with us. Maybe one day.

You have an RV!!!!!!!!! If I had one, I'll be gone all the time... you have to see Yellowstone, just driving around you see all kind of wild life. We saw a Grizzly bear eating an Elk , Buffalo's blocking the road, Wolfs, 2 eagles, mountain goats, it was insane...Dora was trying to get out of the car to go play with them! and she was smelling everything, she had a lot of fun.

[enchilila]

An RV sure doesn't do any good just parked beside the house, that's for sure! lol I've already started talking about a spring vacation to Yellowstone. It sounds like a great vacation. Betty Boop barks at squirrels so I can only imagine the fun she would have with a buffalo!!!!

[Britster]

Looks like a BLAST! I love traveling with the pup. It makes for so much fun and they enjoy it so much. I, too, wish more places were pet friendly.

[MCRoberts]

"Handsome Jackson" he's so cute... Today is Dora's B-Day, 2 years old. We got Dora at a pet shop inside a mall in VA. I know... she probably came from a puppy mill, but I have never purchased a dog before, when I was growing up my mom was a cat lady, and the dogs were either show-ups from the street or a doberman pincher that almost ate me alive. I try to buy from a breeder on line with no success. I want it to see the dog in person and pick the one that fit what I was looking for make some kind of connection. I was just looking the dogs inside their little cages and the very first one that catch my eye was Dora, she was trying to lay down on a toy trying to keep her tiny paws from going into the holes on her floor and she looks very cold and sick. I stood there looking at her and the sales lady approach me and very enthusiastically ask me if I will like to see a Yorkie. I ask her what was wrong with this puppy? she looks like something is wrong, and she said, Oh, no, she is just sleepy... let me show you this other one, "her sister". At this place they put you in this cubicle type of deal so that you can interact with the puppy and they don't run away, I guess that if given the chance they will. The sales person is looking at her commission and I'm the perfect catch of the day, don't know anything about dogs, compassionate, and willing to hold the dog for a few minutes. They brought dog #1, she was like a squirrel, very cute, full of energy, she just ran in circles & couldn't get a hold of her... the lady took her away and I ask her to show me the other one, the sad looking one. She pass me Dora and I set her on the floor and she just look up at me, stretch herself flat on the floor on her belly and crawl to my feet...I pick her up, and she was shaking and I can feel all her bones as I touch her back, under all that pretty hair she was all bones...It was winter and I put her inside my jacket to keep her warm and she just lay there and stop shaking. A woman walks by and says "for that kind of money you can buy a Lab", my husband is standing watching and of course expecting me to snap out of the tender moment and give the dog back and say thanks, but "we are just looking", because that's what I told him to lure him inside the store. He is probably thinking "for that kind of money I can buy a hunting rifle"... Dora was at the moment 10 weeks old & a little over 3 lbs., I have already decided when I first saw her that she was going home today, I was going to rescue her from that dungeon & I was going to pay that woman whatever she ask just to get her out of there. There was silence in the car driving back to the house, Dora was still inside my jacket sleeping, the first word broke the ice, the silence, and the no eye contact tactic, "so", my husband said...what are you going to name her? I have the name picked for her already. Her name is "Dora"...Dora was a big doll that belong to my daughter even that she was 22 years old, she got it one Xmas when she was young and always loved all the Dora the explorer stuff, she even looks like Dora when she was 4. My daughter have a very horrible death in a car accident back on 2006 in Fl., as a passenger going to Tampa in Alligator Alley by marker 95. There is a marker with her name on it right by the spot were it happen. I have her doll Dora. I believe that when you are a mom and your child is taken away so sudden, your motherly instinct don't go away, but it has to be canalized somehow, Dora has been a great companion to me, I rescue her and she rescue me. Today is her B-day and we are going to go her a treat, a Squirrel on a stick from a local pet bakery. Sorry for this long story, I was just going to celebrate Dora's b-day and I ended up writing some kind of testimonial. Dora is healthy now, her 1st visit to the vet revealed an ear infection, respiratory infection, urine infection, and kennel cough. She really need it help that day we met for the 1st time.

[harleychick]

Awww, Dora is beautiful!!! She is lucky you walked into that pet shop that day. I'm so sorry for the loss of your daughter. I can't imagine the pain you experienced & am thinking still do.

I was on Alligator Alley last year on our trip to FL. If we get back there again this winter I am going to look for the spot you mentioned and say a prayer for her.

So glad you rescued little Dora...& you have each other. Give her a hug from Miki & I.

Happy Birthday Dora!!!

[MCRoberts]

Thank you for your kindness.

[enchilila]

Happy Birthday, Dora! You are a very special little girl and have a wonderful mommy!

[chestermama]

she is a cutie, Im so glad you have each other, they do make our lives complete thats for sure

[yorkieusa]

It looks like Dora had a fun road trip. I hope you had as much fun as she had. She's so cute. I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter. Dora is very lucky to have someone like you love her so much. I think you both needed one another. I'm so happy she's healthy now. It sounds like Dora had a very special birthday. May she have many, many more fun road trips and great birthdays.