Woof you take me along?

Quite early into their six monthlong tour of southeast Asia in 2017 Ukrainian couple Kristina Masalova and Eugene Petrus found an ailing stray pup in Fort Kochi Thin and tan like an unleavened flatbread it immediately inspired them to call the dog ChapatiAlthough they nursed the pup back to health Masalova says they didnrsquot have the heart to leave her behind At the time the couple had quit their jobs bought a oneway ticket to India and were to travel as long as their pockets permitted The addition of a furry member however meant rethinking travel plans ldquoWe couldnrsquot go back to Ukraine because we had a rented apartment We couldnrsquot stay in India for long as our visas were timebound There was no option but to take her wherever we were welcome as a unitrdquo she saysFour years and 23 countries later Chapati has deservedly earned ldquothe most travelled dogrdquo honour by the India Book of Records and National Register of Records of Ukraine The couple has been documenting their adventures on their Instagram page TravelingChapati which now has more than 34k followers There are many reasons that make Chapati a wonderful traveller say the couple The first according to Masalova is Chapatirsquos genetics ldquoShe belongs to a breed of Indian indigenous dogs who evolved on their own not less than 15000 years ago and this makes them extremely flexible and adaptable Since they live on the streets they are accustomed to a nomadic lifestyle Chapati is vigilant adaptable devoted and intelligent She also has aristocratic manners and carries herself with dignityrdquoChapati with ldquothe most travelled dogrdquo certificate from the India Book of Records and National Register of Records of UkraineSecond is their own decision to introduce Chapati to a variety of transportmdashcar bike train and ferrymdashearly on They have deliberately avoided air travel because the idea of their pet being ferried in a luggage compartment is ldquotaboordquo Countries that have mandatory quarantine for pets such as Iceland Malaysia New Zealand are also out of boundsWhen you travel with a dog itrsquos nearly impossible to have a thorough plan thinks Petrus This is especially true of long roadtrips which they also have found to be the best option ldquoDogs can bring plenty of bureaucratic questions and refusals so one should always leave room for improvisationsrdquo The duo usually draws up a rough list of countries they plan to visit and a deadline to return ldquoBut while actually on the road we plan only for our very next destinationrdquo The only aspect which requires thorough planning is the documentation of the pet which is mandatory for crossborder travel ldquoAll countries have different requirements some ask for a bloodtiter test which takes two to three months of waitingrdquo Among the countries they have visited they rate Italy Serbia and Nepal as the most petfriendlyldquoThe more west you move the more dogfriendly it gets Ukraine our homeland has started to become more dogfriendly only in the last few years and itrsquos still light years behind Italy where dogs and cats are allowed on most public transport systems On the other hand most countries of the European Union and the USA donrsquot allow dogs to enter public beaches during highseason time In Asia this was never a problem for usrdquo Their experience has shown that Serbians adore dogs and this was the country where passersby would treat and hug Chapati several times in a day ldquoCafeacute owners were shocked when we asked them if we could enter with a dog because for locals itrsquos obvious that you canrdquo says Petrus What came as a pleasant surprise in Nepal though was that Chapati was allowed into almost all the temples which wasnrsquot the case in Thailand and IndiaChapati as a pup travelling in a longdistance train in IndiaWhat makes their trips doubly fun is how they ldquoviberdquo together as a family ldquoThis is because we love each other and we are always in sync Chapati makes us laugh almost each day and sometimes it even seems that she does that on purpose She makes a lot of funny poses and noisesrdquo Masalova says adding that their most enjoyable outings are to spots nestled in nature where they can safely unleash the dog ldquoShe likes to gallop on the sand by the beach or in the forestsrdquo Although the Coronavirus pandemic had put a pause to their adventures the couple is now planning a road trip next month to Spain and PortugalBefore you travel with your doggtgt Check the rules and requirements of the destination country on government web pages because most of the blogs on the Internet have controversial information which could be far from reality If possible contact the corresponding departments in both countries and clarify mattersgtgt Never put your dog in the luggage department of the airplane if itrsquos not a question of your lifetime immigration and total separation from your petgtgt Make enquiries about the destination country Find out what is the attitude to dogs in that culture the quality of veterinary services do they sell dog food etcgtgt Donrsquot overplan and be ready for impromptu developments You might think that some bureaucratic procedures will take a few hours but it may turn to days and weeksgtgt Itrsquos best to carry dry commercial food and follow the rules of food storage Once the package is opened you should move the food to a sealed container And always follow temperature recommendationsSo if itrsquos hot outside donrsquot leave unpacked food in the car It can cause severe gastroenterological problems for the pet