The Most Paw-Friendly Cities in America in 2021
A pet site has selected some of what it calls the most “paw-friendly cities” in America for 2021 as the number of households with at least one dog continues to grow to 63.4 million, according to the National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association,
Pawstruck gives their opinion on which cities they think are “the most paw friendly cities and welcoming to our canine companions; here are a few:
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Due to the great weather in Albuquerque, about every single restaurant and bar in the city has pet-friendly patio sections for patrons. Visit El Patio De Albuquerque, an absolute New Mexico staple. Other benefits of the city include some of the best dog parks you’ll ever find in a major metropolitan center, plus 400 hiking and bike trails
Asheville, North Carolina
This mountain city has miles of mountain trails and watering holes to get nice and dirty in, not to mention no end of things to sniff. The city offers plenty of dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, and brewpub patios thanks to Asheville’s downtown region, just made for walking around with a dog in tow.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is one of the biggest dog-owning cities in the United States; about 54 percent of Atlanta residents have a dog, while nationwide dog ownership statistics are around 47 percent. Dogs are so much a part of the city’s culture that the Atlanta Braves host an annual Bark At The Park event, welcoming dogs and their owners to the stadium every year.
Austin, Texas
The city has more than just a few amenities that will keep your dogs happy, including Red Bud Isle, an off-leash dog park on an island in the middle of the Colorado River (2020). This swimming hole is for dogs only! Another claim to fame is Bow-Wow Bones, the first food truck for dogs in Texas (Food Trucks Are Going to the Dogs, 2015). This innovative food truck makes the rounds at all the local off-leash dog parks, offering dog-friendly treats for pups big and small!
Bend, Oregon
The number of amenities for your dog in this awesome Oregon paw friendly city is almost inexhaustible. From pet-friendly hotels and on- and off-leash hiking trails to brewpubs where you can enjoy a pint with your pup, Bend has everything you need to have a great time (Visit Bend).
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Cold-weather breeds like huskies and malamutes especially like romping through this city. Looking for some fun times to have with your dog without having to put on a parka yourself? In better weather, Pub Dog Colorado is an outdoor play park and dog-approved eatery in Colorado Springs where you can dine inside with your dog.
Glens Falls, New York
Every year, there’s a Pet Fest held at City Park in the heart of town, a local favorite for pet owners and their pups to get out and socialize. Downtown offers great opportunities for pet-friendly patio dining, nearby Crandall Park offers fun for all-weather play, and, last but not least, the 2021 Puppy Bowl was filmed in Glens Falls.
Jacksonville, Florida
How about a dog park, craft-beer-and coffee-bar for you and your dog? Jacksonville has Kanine Social, a 7,000-square-foot indoor climate-controlled dog daycare facility with an additional 7,000 square feet outside for when the weather’s nice, and even an indoor taproom where you can enjoy a beer with your on-leash pup.
Kansas City, Missouri
A great place to start pet-friendly adventures in KC is what’s been described as the local park system’s “crown jewel:” a dog park that winds through 1,805-acres of grassy meadows and lovely woodlands known as the Swope Park Off-Leash Dog Park.
Portland, Oregon
This city has plenty of meetups like the Pug Crawl and Pit Bull Parade for like-minded fans of specific breeds to gather and celebrate. The best place to get direct information about Portland and all its dog events, check out the Oregon Humane Society website. Portland has more dog parks per capita than any other city in the United States.
San Diego, California
Among the best paw-friendly cities, San Diego has a little bit of everything for dogs and their owners. Whether you’re road-tripping it and passing through or you live here, this West Coast city has so much to offer. First of all, the annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon charity event is a must-see event every year (Dog Surfing Competition San Diego, 2020). Not ready to compete but still want to enjoy a day in San Diego? Try one of the city’s many spa-style dog-wash pup boutiques. Just want some beach time with your dog? Check out the dog beach on Coronado Island, where your pup can run off-lease and play in the sand.
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is especially good for all-weather dogs who don’t mind a bit of a cool breeze in the colder months. According to Visit Salt Lake, the city is a great place to be a dog. It’s also a great place to be a person who has a dog. Our four-legged family members force us to slow down a little, spend some time at the park, throw a stick on the hiking trail, sip just one more round of drinks on a sunny restaurant porch, or take a quiet stroll down the nearest nature path at dusk. All with our most loyal friends in tow.
San Francisco
San Francisco has 52 off-leash dog parks and beaches where dogs are welcome to run free and get nice and soaking wet so that they can splash their owners with a combination of sand and seawater when they shake themselves off. The biggest draw to San Francisco has to be Corgi Con, though. This annual event attracts up to 27,000 Welsh Corgi-loving people every year (except during the pandemic).
Seattle, Washington
Seattle has 15 dog-friendly hotels in the city. Explore any one of the 14 off-leash dog parks. Is your dog hungry? Flag down The Barkery, the Pacific Northwest’s food truck for dogs, as it goes on its daily rounds.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa Bay touts itself as the most dog-friendly city in Florida. Consider dog-friendly hiking on the Al Lopez Park Trail, dozens of dog parks across the city, hundreds of eateries that throw their doors open for furry friends, and nearly 100 locations across the city that are welcoming to guests traveling with dogs.
Source: rentalhousingjournal.com
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