PET FRIENDLY Yale University

The original Handsome Dan belonged to a member of the Yale football team, Andrew Graves. According to Yale lore, part of Graves's decision making in choosing the puppy was its decidedly unfriendly response to tigers and the color crimson (the school mascot and school color of Princeton and Harvard respectively). Since the original Handsome Dan (now and forever known as Handsome Dan I), there have been 17 more Handsome Dans holding sway at Yale, with various degrees of success (Handsome Dans III, VII and VIII apparently retired early due to "emotional instability," III and VIII being uncomfortable with crowds, and VII having quite a nasty temper.) Handsome Dan XVI was briefly kidnapped during a Yale-Harvard game but was soon returned, sans his Yale sweater. And Handsome Dan XVII embraced his position with enthusiasm, and was quite the photo dog, getting his picture taken with such notables as Yale alum George H.W. Bush and Sir Paul McCartney.

Yale is located in New Haven, home to plenty of pet friendly restaurants that will welcome you and your best buddy. One of our favorites for breakfast and lunch is Zoi’s. They’ve got a great selection of omelettes and breakfast sandwiches, including the Mean Dean, eggs, ham, cheese, hot peppers, and grilled onions on a pita. For lunch, they’ve got 27 sandwiches to pick from, like Shaved Rib-eye, Tarragon Chicken Salad, and Caprese. And we love their outdoor seating area, which is like a little shaded hideaway in the middle of the city.

For more pub-style fare, try either Anna Liffey’s Irish Public (which has classics like Bangers & Mash and Guinness Stew on the menu) or the Regal Beagle (how could you not?).

When you’re done with your meal, work some calories off by taking your pooch to one of New Haven’s off leash dog parks. We particularly like the Yale Divinity School Dog Park, located on Saint Ronan Street, though it does have a strict no barking rule. But it is a lovely spot, a grassy expanse in a largely residential area. There is also Edgewood Dog Park and Union Street Dog Park.