Looking for a Dog-friendly City? Consider Shawnee, KS

Johnson County Park & Recreation District

An abundance of dog-friendly breweries, parks and pet stores make Shawnee a favorite for dogs and their owners. If you’ve ever considered a road trip with your beloved dog, you know the importance of finding a dog-friendly city. It turns out that Shawnee is the perfect spot to visit (or live!) if you have a canine companion.

Located in the Kansas City metro area, Shawnee is brimming with dog-friendly breweries, restaurants, parks and more. It also boasts multiple animal rescues, so there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer or even find a new fur-ever friend, if you’re so inclined.

Nancy Gassmann, director of rescue operations at Melissa’s Second Chances, details what makes Shawnee such a dog-friendly city.

How many dogs do you have?
I have one dog. His name is KC. He’s a poodle mix, and he is 13 years old. I love to take him with me when I go places, and Shawnee does have some great places for dogs! He loves to visit the dog-friendly stores and parks.

Describe the region’s pet rescue locations?
There are several pet rescue organizations in the Shawnee area. Of course, Melissa’s Second Chances is one. There is also Great Plains SPCA in the Kansas City metro area, Unleashed Pet Rescue in nearby Mission, Imagine Furever Ranch for senior dogs here in Shawnee, Pawsitive Tails in the Kansas City and Topeka areas, The Rescue Project serving the Kansas City area, KCK Animal Services (a no-kill animal shelter in Kansas City), Kitty City Kansas focused on rescuing kittens and cats, and DivaPets Cat Rescue in Shawnee.

Are there many boarding facilities and groomers in the Shawnee area?
There are several boarding facilities in the area. There is Melissa’s Menagerie, which is located close to us here at Melissa’s Second Chances. And there are Broadmore Pet Retreat and Woof’s Play and Stay in Merriam, which is pretty close to Shawnee. [Plus, there is PetSuites Shawnee and Swanson’s Streamway Dog Park and Daycare.]

We also have plenty of groomers. Melissa’s Second Chances partners with U-Wash Puppy, and they are great. They even have self-wash stations for dogs. We partner with Pet Supplies Plus, which is a great local pet store, as well, and they have the self-wash pet stations, too. They actually have cat adoption catteries at the Leawood and Lenexa stores, and our rescue has our cats up for adoption there!

Glamour Grooming is another groomer in the Shawnee area. Paw Envy offers grooming and also has a great little pet boutique you can take your dogs to. Brookside Barkery & Bath is nearby, as well, and they are a small pet shop with bath stations for washing pets. Clearly, we have lots of options in Shawnee!

Are there plenty of parks or dog parks?
There are tons of parks along with dog parks that have some great walking trails for dogs here. Shawnee Mission Park contains both a regular park and a dog park area, for instance. Thomas Stoll Off-Leash Dog Park is located within the Thomas S. Stoll Memorial Park in nearby Overland Park. And we have West Flanders Park in Shawnee.

These are just a few examples, but more parks are listed on the City of Shawnee website, as well. Bar K is actually a bar, restaurant and event space with a dog park and is another great park option.

Are businesses open to having dogs and their owners visit?
All the businesses I mentioned already are great to visit with your dog. There are so many restaurants and bars that will allow dogs on the patio. We’ve had events at Blind Box BBQ, Servaes Brewing Co., Chicken N Pickle in Overland Park, and Pathlight Brewing. These are just a few of the many dog-friendly businesses in the Shawnee area.