Dog has been man’s best friend ever since the domestication of the gray wolf, at least 15,000 years ago.
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| Man's Best Friend |
Humans have become so attached and accustomed to having dogs around that, in a study done some years back, it was estimated there were over 400 million dogs in the world!
Throughout the ages, dogs have helped man hunt, herd, pull loads, protect their homes and families, and provided companionship, loyalty, and unconditional love. They’ve even been known to get a few drunks home safely! Dogs have influenced our lives and been written about since Egyptian times. Here are a few of my favorite Dog quotes…
"If dogs could talk it would take a lot of the fun out of owning one." and "The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andy Rooney
"If your dog doesn't like someone you probably shouldn't either." and "In dog years I'm dead." – Unknown
"Better not take a dog on the space shuttle, because if he sticks his head out when you're coming home his face might burn up." - "DEEP THOUGHTS" - Jack Handy
"I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons." and "No man can be condemned for owning a dog. As long as he has a dog, he has a friend; and the poorer he gets, the better friend he has." - Will Rogers
"I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jung Claus
and…
"You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us." - Robert Louis Stevenson
Europeans have been long-time practitioners of allowing their furry companions to accompany them to drinking and dining establishments. My wife and I love our little beasties, and have rescued and/or been foster “parents” for many dogs over the years, but had, until fairly recently, found ourselves barking up the wrong tree when it came to bars and restaurants that would allow our mutt menagerie to accompany us.
Recently a great number of Americans have taken a more relaxed stance on letting dogs set paw in public venues, and once again, Texas is leading the pack! Austin is currently ranked as the most dog-friendly city in America, and that overwhelming love for our canine cohorts has started spreading northward to the Metroplex, where we now have a plethora (more than 300) of dog parks and pooch-permitted patios, porches, and decks.
So, if you have a hard time leaving Fido at home, here’s a list of some pup-friendly places that welcome tail-waggers to their establishments. If they are marked with a “*”, they’re “Dallas-approved dog-friendly food establishments,” which are Dallas County businesses where dogs are allowed (typically just on their patios), but they must stay off of any furniture; they must be leashed, under control, and wear a rabies tag at all times; they cannot eat off of the establishment’s dishes or silverware; and they may only be given water or food in disposable containers. However, many of these restaurants/bars have complimentary water bowls and dog treats, and some even have special dog menus!
All Good Café
2934 Main St. Dallas 75226 – 214-742-5362
Bolsa
614 W. Davis St. Dallas 75208 214-943-1883
Dream Café
2800 Routh St. # 170 Dallas 75201 214-954-0486
Elevation Burger
8611 Hillcrest Ave. Dallas 75225 214-360-0088
Garden Café
5310 Junius St. Dallas 75214 214-887-8330
Ginger Man
2718 Boll St. Dallas 75204 214-754-8771
Lee Harvey's
1807 Gould St. Dallas 75215 214-428-1555 L.H.’s has dog day afternoon on Sundays when they close up the gates and allow the dogs to run around.
Molly Maguire’s Ale House
5815 Live Oak St. Dallas 75214 469-248-3080
On the Border
3130 Knox St. Dallas 75205 214-528-5900
St. Johns Wood
2908 McKinney Ave. Dallas 75204 214-880-1700
St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin
2730 Commerce St. Dallas 75226 214-698-1511
San Francisco Rose
3024 Greenville Ave. Dallas 75206 214-826-2020
Sfuzzi
2533 McKinney Ave. Dallas 75204 214-953-0300
State and Allen
2400 Allen St. Dallas 75204 214-239-1990
Uptown Pub
3605 McKinney Ave. Dallas 75204 214-522-5100
I’d like to send a nod out to the folks at Dog About Town, who keep a constantly updated list of new pooch-friendly places around the Metroplex. They have a great Facebook page for die-hard Dallas dog lovers and you can find their list of almost 200 dog-friendly patios, more than 100 other canine-compatible businesses, and a good number of pup-related attractions here…
May your bowl always be full, may all of your bones be big, and may the wind in your nose always smell like meat! Woof!
