Choya in a Tote

Since I don't drive, I fret about being mobile with a dog. I'm not about to keep her at home while I head out. I want to take her to places, to play and have some fun. Or to make an emergency trip to the vet. Sure, the friends who own cars (and if they're in town) could possibly answer a frantic last-minute request in the middle of the night. BUT, that isn't my preferred option. I'd like to be able to hop into a cab to get to the veterinary clinic or anywhere else for that matter.

To travel on public transport (cabs, mainly) or in friends' cars with Choya, she would need to be placed into a bag, for the driver's peace of mind. It would save me from the embarrassment of seeing her fur fly all over someone's car or have her nails dig into their nice plush leather seats. I wasn't going to crate her. Toting a crate around for an outing is ridiculous. She's not severely injured or half dead. I have a giant IKEA plastic bag at home. But I was sure I could do a more fashionable style than an IKEA bag to contain Choya.

The friends had great self-control and held back snarky comments when I mentioned about getting a pram for the dog. They snidely suggested that "Choya isn't a toy dog or that tiny, you know?", "Which other healthy and non-injured dog of Choya's size do you know that rides in a pram on normal days?", and the BFF's line was the best, "It's called 'walking the dog' for a very good reason." I wisely chose to take their opinions and heeded their advice. Dammit. All these people.

I wanted a backpack because it looked really easy, and there're plenty of backpacks designed to carry weight and yet let it rest easy on the shoulders. I don't want to accidentally strain a tendon. Hands-free bags are great when I'm out with the dog. But I wasn't sure if the dog would like that. Considering that she has patella luxation, I don't really want her to be sitting or squatting in the backpack all cramped up.

Found a solution in a huge canvas tote from Love Thy Beast. Most people would buy a medium-sized version to well, tote around. Less cumbersome. However, I needed a bigger one to contain this 7kg dog. The superb team from Vanillapup accepted my purchase as a pre-order, and speedily brought in the Rust & Chestnut for me in Large size.

Opened up the package and placed the bag on the floor for the dog to sniff around. I even threw in her favorite smeowlly toy to lure her inside. She was rather cautious about it. Choya was certainly bemused when I placed her into the bag and lifted it up. She didn't run away or yelp. Once she was in, she didn't struggle. But she had this look on her face that made us crack up so bad. She clearly wasn't impressed at all. But she didn't struggle or complained about it. She simply stood quietly in it. There's plenty of space; I assume that when she's in it proper out and about, she'll eventually lie down and continue to stick her head out.

The Love They Beast tote was a breeze to carry, even with the dog in it! I was quite surprised. The Large didn't overwhelm my frame, and even with a light towel at the base and the dog, it couldn't have weighed more than 10kg in total. The design is gorgeous and someone thought through the mechanics of weight-bearing. The straps are so comfortable and since I wouldn't be toting the bag for long distances, it felt really comfortable to haul the bag onto the shoulder. Importantly, it packs the dog in secure. Even if I don't attach her leash to the inner hook strap or secure it with a carabiner around the handles, she can't quite jump out.

I haven't had a chance to put the tote through its paces yet. Perhaps I'll do so during the festive season when we go visiting, and if the friends are giving me a lift to and fro. This bag will be in heavy use come February when the man's manic back-to-back work trips begin, and it'll be just me and the dog out gallivanting.