Poochie-poochie-coo... it’s Florida Keys - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

You had me at aoooow!

‘Smooch a pooch’ in the Florida Keys follows in the pawsteps.

Of Bono, the Brazilian Labrador dog surfer and the pupparazzi at Huntington Beach, Florida.

I first discovered just how bow-wow bonkers the American were about their pets on my first visit there.

As a 17-year-old.

And I saw a pet parlor on the block near my Auntie’s in Long Island, New York, with the offer of peticures.

Now I might have made that bit up but they definitely painted your doggie’s toenails.

I saw the evidence out on the street on a poodle… in candy-floss pink.

I didn’t get to see me the surfing dogs the Huntington Beach delegation had told me about when they visited Dublin this year

It was too early in the season.

But I did see me a special dog… Snoop Dogg on my trip to Hollywood, West Hollywood and Anaheim…

For the American Travel Fair, IPW… www.ipw.com.

Now the Florida Keys has long been on my radar after I got a big taste for the Sunshine State.

But while Orlando has a mouse, a duck and a dog as well as much, much more The Keys have a very special cat.

But back to the dogs… and December 12 (10am-2pm) sees the sixth annual Parade of Paws and Holiday Bazaar… http://www.fkspca.org/events-and-news/upcomingevents.

At Higgs Beach Dog Park at Atlantic Boulevard and White Street.

In support of the Florida Keys SPCA animal care fund.

Sausage dogs

Which will include photos with Santa, a market of goods, and that chance to smooch a pooch.

And there’s more…

How about the Annual Key West Dachshund Walk, many of them costumed?

In a wiener wonderland on Fleming Street between Whitehead and Duval Streets. From 12noon on December 31.

Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com flies to Miami with pre-clearance through your Irish airport.

And information to get to the Keys on www.fla-keys.co.uk.

GOODBOW FOR NOW