Pups in the Promise Land

Canine culture takes off in Tel Aviv

A land of milk and honey...and hounds. Israel's pooch population is soaring as canines become a more essential part of the family unit. There are currently 20,000 registered dogs in Tel Aviv alone, making the human to hound ratio 1 to 18.5.

"It's fun to be a dog in Tel Aviv...The city considers the needs of dogs and their owners. It allows [dogs] to live in the public domain. It's comfortable for the animals, and it's comfortable for the people," Tamara Elbaz, a dog groomer and Tel Aviv resident recently remarked in an interview with the New York Times. Elbaz has witnessed the canine scene flourish in her city, letting way to a slew of grooming and specialty shops as well as dog parks and recreation areas.

Elbaz attributes Israel's booming interest in furry friends simply to companionship -- Tel Aviv is a city saturated with new immigrants, many of whom do not yet share a common language. Having a puppy serves as an icebreaker, as a way to make connections with your surrounding community. Elbaz comments, "People approach you, you get to talking. Dogs solve the problem of loneliness in a big city."

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Photo found on Flickr
Tags: tel aviv, New York Times, culture