I can't remember going camping without a pet. As a child, that pet was our overly patient Cocker Spaniel, George. He was a sweet boy and his absolute favorite adventures were our annual week-long trip to Cherry Lake in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Each summer we would pile into the Chevy Blazer (burnt orange, I was, after all, a child of the 70's) with everything we would need to live on an island in the middle of a lake for a week, hook up the boat, and head for the hills. We would set up camp with our family friends and us kids would explore, swim, water ski on the glassy lake early in the morning (George a fixture on the front of the boat with ears flying, doggy smile plastered on his face), float in our blow-up rafts (with George swimming circles around us), cook all meals over the camp stove, bake in the sun, consider swimming in the lake our "bath", and poop in the woods (of course burying it). George had free rein, which never happened at home in our small back yard, where all adventures beyond his yard required a leash. His soft curly ears would be crusted with mud and stickers, he was a happy water dog surrounded by water, he would sit by the camp fire between our camp chairs, and curl up in the tent with us at night. These were, by far, his happiest days. I often think back on these simple times and wonder if they were for real - they seem like a dream - but we have the pictures and the shared memories to prove it.
Our next camping pet was inadvertent - on the day we were getting ready to head out for a camping trip with family, our cat Tigger, a very smart tiger striped tabby, a savvy and sweet boy, ended up under the car when my mom was moving it and broke his leg (but was otherwise ok). Off to the vet he went, full front leg cast applied. We couldn't leave him home, so Tigger came along on this camping trip to the woods. Tigger and his cast piled into the paneled station wagon with us and made the drive to Blue Creek. Turns out he also loved camping; he spent the day basking in the sun, sat on our laps by the campfire, and would tuck into the flap of the tent at night.
Later, once my parents bought an RV, we traveled with our fat Siamese cat, Chopstick. He also loved his time away from home, he was happy to lounge on the dash in the sun when we parked, ride sitting in our laps or curled up on the bed in the back. We would never dream of leaving for a trip without loading Chopstick in with us. Unfortunately when he was a little older and during a trip driving through the US southwest, he became ill. My parents found a vet in Las Vegas and took him in. The vet asked to keep him for a few days to run some tests and for observation, and sadly diagnosed him with Feline Leukemia and he didn't make it. It was a sad, sad trip. A reminder life will always throw you curve balls, even when camping.
Fast forward many years, our pup Zara, a quirky Belgian Malinois, is now our traveling companion. Wherever we go, she goes. She is the best traveler and we joke she has car narcolepsy - she crashes out as soon as she jumps in the truck and will stay that way, curled at the kids feet on the floorboard, for hours on end. She loves anytime she spends with her people, so she's a happy girl. Zara's favorite time ever was during Covid when we were at a mostly-empty RV park for 3 months, where she knew all the people and could run leash-free with her new best friend, Mylo, a Parsons Terrier. We have now added another quirky Belgian Malinois pup to the family since Zara is getting older (she just turned 11), who we named Piper. It's a little chaotic but she is learning the ropes from Zara. We are looking forward to the many adventures to come with our girls.
Camp socially - with your furry best friend!
Pictured: Zara and our oldest kiddo.
Comments