On a trip to Minneapolis last weekend, I saw what was possibly the saddest puppy on the entire planet - in the hotel elevator, a young couple was taking their chocolate lab outside for a "pit stop".  As we zoomed down to the lobby, the poor thing huddled on the floor of the elevator, looking up at us with big, nervous eyes.  Lucky for her, the ride was short, and she soon escaped to the freedom of...a busy downtown street made entirely of cement, with not a speck of green in sight. 

I watched as they headed for the nearest park, which was five blocks away, and thought about how hard it would be to have a dog in a big city.  I suppose it's a little like camping - you need to plan ahead for any trips to the bathroom, although city street lamps make a flashlight unnecessary.  Walking down crowded sidewalks on busy streets must be a challenge - I know with my dog, it would be all of 30 seconds before he wrapped his leash around a pole, or a charming cafe chair, or somebody else's legs.

Have you owned a dog in a big city, and what was your experience?