Maggie in Venice

ABOVE: Meg stands (or, rather, lies) watch over her domain.

Over the years, Cheryl (sometimes accompanied by Maggie) has bought t-shirts and other gifts at a souvenir cart in the Campo delle Beccarie, next to the Pescaria  or Fish Market on the San Polo side of Venice's Rialto Bridge.

Recently, Cheryl stopped by the cart to buy more t-shirts for our grandchildren, and she remembered that the lady who owned the kiosk had once mentioned having a dog.

When Cheryl asked about the dog, the lady took her around the cart and pulled a drawer open. Inside the drawer was Meg, her nine-year-old canine companion. Cheryl couldn't resist taking photos, and here's a selection:

 ABOVE: Meg and her owner show off their stall near Venice's Fish Market.

ABOVE: Meg, the ever-watchful watchdog, sniffs Cheryl's shoes before allowing her to touch the merchandise.

ABOVE: Having satisfied herself that Cheryl isn't a shoplifter or cat, Meg settles back onto her watchdog's  shelf.

ABOVE: After Cheryl makes a purchase, Meg says "Thank you" by licking her hand. (The thanks were mutual: Meg's owner's prices are fair, and the lady has always given Cheryl a discount for multiple purchases.)

Need a t-shirt, scarf, apron, or other souvenir made of fabric?

The teardrop-shaped red marker shows the location of Meg's--and her owner's--souvenir cart. You can zoom in on the map (and drag it, if necessary) to see the walking route from the Rialto Bridge:

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Croatia may not directly related to Maggie (or to Venice, for that matter), but we can't resist telling you about Doggycheckin.com, an attractive and easy-to-use Web site with the theme "We make it easier to travel to Croatia with the dog!"

Here's what the Croatian National Tourist Board has to say about Doggiecheckin.com:

"If dogs could speak, they would tell you that we are best friends and that we should never part. And best friends go on holiday together! Croatia is a country where both you and your dog are welcome, so pack your bags and take your dog to the Adriatic or Continental Croatia. Doggycheckin.com is the first website dedicated to tourists who come to Croatia with their dogs, and it is unique not only because you can find all the necessary information in one place, but also because it offers direct bookings in pet friendly hotels, through their partnership with Booking.com."

Doggiecheckin.com isn't just for bookings--it also has practical information about topics such as veterinarians, pet shops, groomers, dog-friendly parks and beaches, public transportation, and required travel documents.

To visit the site, go to:

Doggiecheckin.com

For general travel information about Croatia (which is just across the narrow Adriatic Sea from Venice), see: 

Croatia.hr (Croatia National Tourist Board)

Note: Venezia Lines operates a ferry service between Venice and Croatia. Pets are allowed, but with limitations: Cats must be in cages, and dogs must be no larger than 60 cm in length and 50 cm in height (measured from head to floor).

In Venice, dogs are welcome just about everywhere. They wander without leashes in the city's calli and campi, sit with their owners in restaurants and bars, enter most shops (except supermarkets, where they're usually tied up inside the entrance), and ride water buses and water taxis.

Many local dogs don't mind hopping in and out of traghetti, the gondola ferries that cross the Grand Canal. Here's a sequence that Cheryl photographed at the Campo del Traghetto in San Marco, where a boat was about to cross the Grand Canal to Dorsoduro:

ABOVE: A lady and her Dachshund approach the Traghetto Santa Maria del Giglio pier.

ABOVE: The Dachshund, seeing a paparazza, strikes a profile pose.

ABOVE: The lady and her dog board the waiting traghetto.

ABOVE: One of the oarsmen (in the white baseball cap) can't resist giving the Dachshund a pat.

ABOVE: The dog makes itself comfortable among the human passengers and their gear.

ABOVE: The Dachshund and its fellow passengers enjoy the short voyage to the opposite bank of the Grand Canal.

• Tip: For more information about riding traghetti in Venice (including prices), see our Venice Traghetto article at Veniceforvisitors.com.