Samsam — SamSam — is a créole dog. She came to us the way créole dogs often do in Martinique: unannounced, persistent, and eventually impossible to refuse. She’s been part of the family since before the A-frame was built.
She knows the garden better than any of us. She knows which mango tree drops first, which corner catches the afternoon breeze, where Léon is most likely to leave a snack unattended. She has her routines and expects them to be respected. She’s the sentinel of the property — the one who decides who’s welcome, and who isn’t.
She’s also the reason pets are welcome at Les Vendredis.
We couldn’t ask guests to leave their animals at home when our own dog runs the property. Samsam sets the policy: if you travel with a dog, bring them. The garden is big, the terrain is interesting, and there are things to sniff around every corner. Cats too — we’ve had guests with cats, and Samsam maintains a dignified and mostly peaceful détente.
The one rule: dogs on a lead when they first arrive, until everyone’s had a chance to get acquainted. After that, the garden is theirs.
Samsam will probably be there to greet you. She’ll bark once, check you out, and then go back to whatever she was doing. She’s not a problem dog. She’s a host.
