Kvarner has become a real Pet Friendly destination and here's why:

First of all, accommodation facilities – from hotels and apartments to holiday homes and campsites – specialise in accepting pets and their owners. Look for family accommodation with an additional quality label 'Kvarner Family - Pet Friendly' (www.kvarnerfamily.hr).

'Kvarner Gourmet' and 'Kvarner Food' restaurants with the additional 'Dog Friendly' label offer special places on their terraces for guests with dogs.

The first dog café in the world was opened in Kvarner – Monty`s Dog Beach & Bar (www.monty.hr). It now has two locations, Crikvenica and Rab, and is considered one of the most popular and best dog beaches in Croatia. This is where all the rules about ordering food and drinks in a café on the beach cease to exist, because Monty's Dog Bar is the place where your four-legged pets come first. Therefore, don't wonder if you see a large shepherd dog standing next to you with his front paws on the bar, a small Pekingese sitting at a table, or a Great Dane enjoying beer, liquid beef and chicken extract. The offer also includes dog ice cream, chips and other treats. They say that a dog is man's best friend. Let them enjoy their holidays too.

How about beaches for dogs? Kvarner offers many of them! The most famous is certainly the Podvorska dog beach in Crikvenica; then there's Vela Plaža Beach in Baška, which is known for its turquoise sea and its sand, ideal for dogs and their owners. Kijac Beach in Njivice, Redagara Beach in Krk, Veli Žal Beach in Mali Lošinj, Punta Kolova Beach between Opatija and Ičići, the dog beach in Mošćenička Draga and a number of beaches in Rijeka are not far behind.

If you prefer an active holiday with your pet, then it's good to know that Kvarner is criss-crossed with marked walking and themed trails extending for a total length of more than 3,000 km. You can take your dog on most of these trails, and the Opatija Hiking Trail (Opatijska Planinarska Obilaznica – OPO) even offers the possibility of keeping a Dog Diary in which owners record the arrival of their pets at the checkpoints on this circular trail.

In addition, in Kvarner you can also find shops with 'waiting rooms' for dogs, veterinary clinics, dog hotels, dog grooming salons, specialised pet shops, and all the other services that a pet may need during a stay in Kvarner.

We've also prepared events for our four-legged guests in Kvarner:

• A real dog's New Year celebration in Crikvenica without firecrackers, rustling balloons or anything to scare dogs, with plenty of treats and gifts, a dog cake, and the opportunity to have a photo taken on stage with plenty of good vibes (1 January)
• Underdog Marathon in Crikvenica and on the island of Rab (August)
• Crikvenica 4 Pets (pet carnival, Bike & Vau marathon, pet show) (September/October)
• 'Paw Race' for dogs and their owners in Crikvenica (December)
• CACIB international dog show in Rijeka

More information about accommodation and other facilities in Kvarner can be found at:

www.kvarner.hr

www.kvarner-petfriendly.weebly.com

Photo: ART Redaktionsteam, Julien Duval, Ivan Brčić, TB Mali Lošinj