Probably you like to walk around in your neighborhood and find new places to visit or eat. If you are a Google Guide, more than just walk, you also love to share what you’ve discovered during this time. Yes, I’m just like you! But unfortunately, a lot of places don’t allow pets, and for me, it’s really important to enjoy my time with my dog.
My buddy is one of the kinds that loves to be together, all the time. Can you imagine how hard would be for me to leave him home while I’m enjoying my free time? I didn’t believe that was fair to go out while he was alone. One of the things that he most likes is to do his walk. We already took a tour for more than 2 hours. And if I would go to walk, why not bring him with me?
So, trying to solve this problem, I started to search on Google Maps what places we could go together in Sao Paulo. I couldn’t find many places in the beginning. It was a lot of effort online just to have a good comment. Because of that, I decided (we decided) to visit and give our own reviews. We started near our place, at the bakery 5 minutes walking home. It was simple. I took the leash, walk and then ask if we could enjoy some meal in their place. Simple as that, it became a new routine.
I already had many comments on maps, but I noticed that many of the comments which received more likes where about places I’d been with my dog. Some time ago, Google available hashtags, and I saw it as a great opportunity to create a new hashtag #petfriendly. If I started using it, and my comments kept getting more views, maybe more and more people will start using it as well. And then we could solve a gap for humans and animals who look for a place to be together outside.
Today, every time we do something different I do some notes, and take photos, and give my opinion with the hashtag #petfriendly. Always thinking about help others to not leave their friends alone at home. I believe that many people in Sao Paulo and other cities around the globe love their dogs, or cats, or birds, as I do. And after staying out at work the whole week, they deserve some enjoyable time with us. Let’s start to promote more of these pet-friendly places! Maybe Google can create a symbol (like a paw) to identify it easier.