- I chose a more expensive neighborhood because it's dog-friendly.
- I pay $4,700 a month in rent to prioritize my dogs' quality of life.
- Moving to a different ZIP code gave us a more walkable, community-centered life.
I've learned that there are three types of dog owners in the world: those who have dogs but treat them like pets with basic needs, those who absolutely love their dogs and spoil them, and those who treat their dogs like children.
I'm proudly in the third category.
I grocery shop for my dogs so I can home-cook their meals. I buy them Christmas presents, post photos of them on their Instagram account to more than 12,000 followers (whom I reply to on their behalf), take them to photoshoots and brand partnerships, and got them European passports so I can take them on vacation with me.
Not only that, but I play Bluey, SpongeBob SquarePants, and meditation music for them while I'm busy working to keep them entertained. I let them lick my vanilla ice-cream cone, and they sleep in my bed, cuddled under the covers at night.
But all of those things directly align with my lifestyle and the tasks I already do regularly; however, six months ago, I did the most drastic thing in my life for their benefit. I moved zip codes, prioritizing their well-being.
I chose a neighborhood where I could walk with them everywhere
Last year, while deciding where to move, I focused on finding a neighborhood where I could walk almost everywhere and bring them with me, while feeling safe walking at any hour of the day or night. After researching the best neighborhoods in the city for dog parents, all signs pointed to Coral Gables — one of the most expensive and also most dog-friendly areas in Miami.
Moving to Coral Gables from Doral meant switching from an apartment with a $2,500 monthly rent to one with a $4,700 a month rent. While that is a drastic shift in rent pricing I'm choosing to make, given my current priorities and the lifestyle I want my dogs to have, it makes sense. People always say, "You're paying for the location," and quite frankly, that's never felt more true to me.
Many of the residential buildings in Coral Gables allow pets, which takes the stress off people who need to move but can't find dog-friendly places. Since the dog culture is so pronounced in this part of Miami, many buildings make it acceptable to have more than one dog.
I moved from Europe to Florida with my dogs
I lived in Europe for nearly five years — three of them in London, then the South of France, and finally Rome — before moving back to Florida in 2022. While in London, I became a dog mom after someone gifted me Bentley for Christmas.
During my time in Europe, I never owned a car because public transportation made getting around effortless. When I moved to Miami, that was what I missed most. Since moving back, I've been eager for something that comes as close as possible to the life I lived in Europe, with the dog-friendly energy that comes with it.
My French Bulldogs have many special needs. Being brachycephalic, they can only walk at certain temperatures, which means our walks have to happen during specific hours of the day so it's not too hot. They also need to maintain a healthy weight, since excess weight can affect their backs and ligaments. Frenchies are prone to skin allergies as well, which I've never seen manifest in mine — and I credit that to their fully home-cooked diet.
While we often get compliments at the vet for being among "the healthiest Frenchies" they've ever seen, that level of care comes with real responsibility and sacrifice. Owning a French Bulldog means shaping your lifestyle around its health and wellness needs. I never planned to have this breed, but life had other plans, and I ended up with two that I love with my whole heart.
They're my buddies, my besties, and I'm grateful I found a place in Miami that makes me miss Europe a little less — while giving me more time to simply be with them and involve them in my daily activities.
