I am very excited to report that I, Albert P. Clark, now have an international pen pal! His name is Panzer Kingsley and he is a really cool German Shepherd who used to live here but moved to France a few months ago. His "Dad" is First Secretary at the United States Embassy in Paris. Panzer is very tall, distinguished and handsome (kind of like what I am on the inside even though I'm short and frizzy on the outside). Panzer wrote a very nice note asking if we could correspond and I jumped at the chance to learn all about life in the City of Lights.

So far, I've found out that the French are a lot more sophisticated than Americans when it comes to welcoming dogs in all kinds of establishments. It's easier to take us on public transportation, and lots of cafes and shopping malls love canine visitors! It seems like such a civilized way to live. Puppy parents must clean up after pets in public places or face a hefty fine, but that seems a small price to pay for having our constant companionship.

Panzer did say that it is important to be careful about which airline to choose when flying across the pond with pets. This is particularly critical if you must put a pet in the cargo hold. For instance, you should insist on having climate controlled holding facilities and strict guidelines regarding the time required between connecting flights. Panzer had a wonderful experience with Lufthansa. In his opinion, the foreign airlines are more careful about the care of animals than the US carriers.

Finally, Panzer suggests keeping up the relationship with your US vet while out of the country. If you cannot get prescriptions overseas, the US vet can ship medications to your address abroad.

So thank you, Panzer, for taking the time to enlighten a simple domestic journalist like me. Your life sounds very glamorous! I can barely imagine pets being welcome at the table inside a restaurant. It's the stuff of dreams.

I also want to thank you for giving me a wonderful idea. I would love to sometimes be able to write about other dogs' experiences. My voice is just one of so many possible voices near and far. So readers, please encourage your pets to write to me. I might include their viewpoints in an article. I might post their stories or pictures on www.wyliewagg.com. Together, we could have a lot of fun!

Albert's Paw Pals is the name of my new program dedicated to keeping the bark lines open. Write me at albertspawpals@gmail.com. Your pet can send anecdotes, stories, questions and photos. And, if your dog doesn't quite know how to use a computer just yet, you can help. (Of course, if you have a cat, using the mouse is second nature.)

Au revoir for now!

Albert, a Jack Russell Terrier, is Chairman of the Board of Wylie Wagg, a shop for dogs, cats, and their people, in Middleburg and Fairfax.