About Dogs. And Cats. And Cruising.

Chris and Monica Glubka of the California-based Hylas 46 Sea Glub have been writing a blog about their cruise down into Mexico, and some lines from a recent posting got our attention. They were written from Cabo San Lucas and were about “greed” and dogs.

“After coming to Cabo for 26 years, and choosing this over any other city in the world in which to get married, I don’t know if I ever need to come back,” wrote Chris. “This place has been so overrun by greed. Today we were told by the management of seven restaurants and bars, including outdoor ones, that we couldn’t spend our money there if we had our dog with us. No dogs allowed! Well, screw them! If they’re making so much money that they can turn us away because of our dog, then congratulations. But we no longer want to spend our money here.”

Hilary Helkenn responded to Sea Glub’s posting: “This makes me sad. Dogs are everywhere in La Cruz. I wonder how many there are in La Paz? And I’m not sure about Puerto Vallarta. We just won’t go if we can’t take puppies. We ain’t about that life!”

Yes, the tourist places in Cabo San Lucas are expensive. But that should be expected from any tourist place in any tourist mecca. There is plenty of dirt-cheap food and drink to be had in Cabo. You just need to eat and drink where the locals do.

Speaking as the Wanderer, I have mixed feelings about dogs. I know they bring tremendous pleasure and comfort to their owners, and in some cases are almost as important as life itself. That is a wonderful thing.

On the other hand, I wonder what goes through the minds of pet owners who, upon seeing that a person doesn’t want to be bothered by their dog, continues to let the dog sniff, lick and bark at them.

Dogs are welcome at many restaurants and bars in the La Cruz, Punta Mita and Sayulita area. The presence of what I’ve found to be some obnoxious dogs is the reason I patronize some of these establishments less often than I would otherwise.

There is also the issue of dogs crapping in the middle of a dock or on your electrical cord or hose. Many dog owners always clean up after their dogs. But too many don’t. And in Mexico there are so many wild dogs that stepping on poop in the dark of night is a concern.

Nor can I ignore the problem of dogs barking their brains out anytime anyone walks by their boat at the dock or rows past their boat in the anchorage. Some dogs will continue barking for the next half hour.

I have a hard time understanding why people wouldn’t rather have a cat than a dog on a boat. After all, cats are smaller, more nimble, and less noisy — and thus more ideally suited for a boat. It seems so unfair to the dog to have a big dog on a boat.

Cruise with a dog if you want, but please do everyone a favor and be a good owner. And don’t let your love for your dog blind you to the fact that a substantial number of people — and businesses — don’t feel the same way that you do about your choice of a pet. Those who love dogs will let themselves be known.