Petsology

This article is published in number 17 of Vanity Fair on newsstands until April 27, 2021

1 Let’s start again! I’m not staying at home

About a third of Italians have at least one at home, and almost 60% want to take it with them on holiday: not just the classic dog & cat duo, everything can be pet, from canary to pony. And for those who don’t have any but would like them for a while, the ingenious website Trustedhousesitters.com connects owners who leave their homes and pets all over the world – yes, even in Central Park! – to those who want to leave and take care of them.

2 The club of the bau. Other than retirement

A typically British “gentlemen” club: goodbye kennel effect, here is the spa, relaxation rooms, garden, expert training coaches and designer “rooms” with air conditioning. Urban Mutts, in London in the heart of the super trendy Sheperd’s Bush district, is the dog hotel that brings the concept of pension «to the next level», to be imitated.

3 Grand hotel. I thought I saw the cat …

The combination of cats and hotels is ancient and perfect. Looking for them for a greeting is also a great excuse to go inside and visit many famous addresses. Fa-raon (above), the refined Burmese resident of the famous Le Bristol in Paris, has his own apartment – decorated by street artist Rank – but roams freely. If it knocks, you have to open. oetkercollection.com

4 Longing for the beach. Together with Maccarese

Impossible not to know it: Baubeach is the historic first beach where “dogs and humans and nature can live together in harmony”, born in Italy over 20 years ago in Maccarese, Rome. This year there are many new projects, the registration and (hopefully!) The early reopening. baubeach.net

5 Education. Come and count the sheep

What does a city sheepdog dream about? Perhaps to gather the flock as his relatives have done in the countryside for centuries: it is just one of the courses at the Over the Top Agility Team dog center in Vimercate (Monza and Brianza), where qualified instructors educate dogs of all ages and personalities with careful methods. to fun. Facebook: @Asdoverthetop; email: [email protected]

6 Check-in. The charge of pet friendly hotels

Hotels, B & Bs, glamping sites, restaurants… Those who start with 6 legs know that word of mouth and the network are everything. The international Instagram hashtags for example are #pettravel, #dogstravel, #dogsofinstagram. A historical Italian site is dogwelcome.it. For ideas, itineraries and useful addresses: zampavacanza.it.

7 Ciak, we turn. Animal actors, with respect

The desire for nature and the animal kingdom is one of the few positive consequences of this new moment. The ones you see in the most famous advertising and fashion campaigns are curated by Animal Spot Milano, the animal actors agency specializing in casting, animal preparation and training. How you do it? Whether the star is a dog, a cat, a horse, a bird or an exotic animal, what matters is the knowledge and respect for his character. animalspotmilano.it

8 Get dressed, let’s go out. Petwear to the rescue

It was not just the excuse to be able to go out during the lockdown: during the first lockdown 2020 three and a half million Italians bought or adopted a dog. Enpa has found a home in Italy for 8,100 dogs and 9,500 cats, over 15% more than in 2019. Even petwear has its moment: Diesel presents its very first collection of petwear, with a series of jackets and sweatshirts designed for small dogs. The Diesel Doggies Collection consists of two denim jackets and two sweatshirts. Among the sizes, also S, SS and 3S, and longer versions to prove elegance for everyone, even for dachshunds. diesel.com

9 And the others? Walking with Bunny

Let’s not underestimate them, in Italy out of an estimated 32 million domestic animals 1.8 million are the so-called “small mammals”: hamsters and rabbits. Those who leave with a rabbit in a car do well to make frequent stops, at least 15-20 minutes every hour and a half. During the trip, the rabbit should be covered with a light sheet because it is very sensitive to drafts.

10 That’s right. All about the Grand Tour

Where to sleep and eat, but also shops, veterinary advice, transport and news to go with them. The Italian Touring Club guide Traveling with dog and cat also exists in an app version.

11 Dog film festival. Film friends

The Oscars for animals do not exist, but until the 1980s the Patsy Awards awarded many stars with statuettes. Like Orangey, the cat from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and of course the award-winning Lassie, who was a female Scottish Shepherd. But from 2021 there is the Dog Film Festival, the first dedicated review. And it is open to all: the works produced can be sent until May 30th; on July 8 the assignment. Details on the site. dogfilmfestival.it

12 Mission possible. Adopt it!

It is a European excellence: the Onlus Squadra 4 Zampe Foundation in Vairano di Vidigulfo (Pavia) is committed to making difficult “adoptions” possible, recovering dogs that would struggle to find a family. The place is idyll, the team of passionate professionals, the dogs followed as they deserve to really find them the right place in the world. team4zampe.com

13 Never again without. The bau menu is served

Food for Dogs is the name of the first catering for dogs, a hamburger of human grade meat (70%) and vegetables (30%) in a vacuum-sealed aluminum bag. The doggy lunch box is a quality meal ready to be served to the guest in a box-bowl.
The kit, in the bau menu of the best hotels and restaurants in Italy, has already been spotted at the Mandarin Oriental Lake Como and at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo. foodfordogs.it

14 Let’s give it a paw. Less cold for everyone

Sleeping bags for the homeless and duvets for their dogs: they were donated in Milan by the famous brand of clothing and accessories for dogs Poldo Dog Couture with the help of the Italian Relief Corps of the Order of Malta, the Cisom.

15 Like Steve Mcqueen. From the jacket to the kennel

Aficionados know it: Zara launches its first Pet Collection. And nothing is missing: there are coats, sets of brushes, stuffed toys, leashes, cushions, baskets and several upholstered kennels in quality fabrics printed with flowers, elegant stripes, solid colors … But our must-haves are ceramic bowls in two sizes, also perfect for cats, and the yellow raincoat, truly Instagram-proof (sold exclusively on zara.com).

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