A day in Bruges - some pictures, dog accoutrements I’m glad I packed, and European microchip issue.

Mar 26

Mango did great today, a rainy day exploring Bruges with Carin and kids. After a while, we were all cold, drenched and hungry. We found a very nice cafe that welcomed all of us including Mango. You can see Mango and the kids in the cafe, in the photos below.

I am already learning what things I brought that I am super grateful to have, things I prepared well and others not so much.

Yesterday we went to the vet to get her pet passport and thankfully I really wanted to get her a European Pet Passport, because in the process I discovered that her US microchip does not scan here. Yikes!

The nice vet is figuring out what chip she needs here, so we are going to go back and get a European microchip implanted this week before we can really go off exploring. My US vet did check, mindful of this issue, however she was assured the ISO microchip-AVID would track here, but it does not. I’m SO glad to know this before we head out.

The vet said he’d helped an Australian woman and her dog. Her dog had 3 chips from 3 different areas of the world!

Packing yays for Mango-

The K-9 Sportsac. Funny, I just googled this too and it’s also here in France for about half the cost! We used it yesterday on the Metro to go to Lille. The Metro says only small dogs in carriers and the backpack was perfect for navigating the stations. Mango is awesome and gets in and out of the bag easily enough for me to put her in it on an outside cafe chair by the station. Sadly I do not have pictures, perhaps another day.

The towel! The REI microfiber camping towel (that I almost did not bring). I have used it every single day. You can see it is protecting the chair in the restaurant for Mango to sit on behind me.

It is rainy, it’s dirty here, and I’m so happy to have the REI towel! Also, I was able to order (Carin ordered for me) the Earth Rated unscented dog wipes I use at home, they are the same or less expensive here to order online. I had brought about 5 with me in a baggie and am grateful I did until I could figure out how to get them here. I did not have to bring the whole package.

The Springer water bottle! Amazing and so happy to have. I’ve used it most days. Note—I thought this was a special US invention, but when I put it into a google search, one just like it popped up. It’s a different brand and available locally. My friend thinks it’s cool and wants to get one for her sister.

I wish I’d brought more of her treats. I will find some locally but haven’t yet. Until I am oriented to brands and reading labels… So far I haven’t found cute dog boutiques here as readily, but it’s early days.

On the drive home, all the kids including Mango were crashed out. Long day!