10 Best Cities for Pet Owners and Their Pets
So you’re considering moving to a new city and want to make sure your furry companion is just as happy there as you. Where do you begin? For starters, look at cities that have earned a certification through the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program.
This certification program by Mars Petcare evaluates cities across the U.S. (and Canada — there are two certified cities in Ontario) based on four key areas: shelters, homes, parks and businesses. The program aims to help cities be pet-friendly so that more people can enjoy the benefits of having a four-legged friend. The program also includes a playbook for cities, assessment tools, a certification program and several free resources.
Below, we share 10 of the best, including what makes them an excellent choice for pets and their people.
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1. Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin was the first city to pilot the Better Cities for Pets program in 2017. Nearly 100 businesses downtown joined in, adding matching water bowls outside their shops and signs to let customers know if pets are allowed inside.
There are several hydration and waste stations around town to make it easier for pet parents to get out and about with their pup. Favorite spots include Scout’s Pub, beloved for their Good Dog Menu and Dog of the Month contest, and the 200-acre Park at Harlinsdale Farm with its four-acre K-9 Korral dog park.
Franklin has another pet-friendly first too — they’re served by the Nashville International Airport, the first airport certified by Better Cities for Pets, featuring a dog park, pet relief areas and a massive mural of a basset hound wearing aviators.
2. Bloomington, Indiana
Another early adopter of the Better Cities for Pets model, Bloomington welcomes dogs inside many locally owned businesses, such as The Chocolate Moose, an ice cream institution dating to 1933, and JL Waters, Indiana’s oldest outdoor adventure store (now with free dog treats!).
During the certification process, Bloomington scored highest in the shelters category. That’s partially thanks to the Monroe County Humane Association, a full-service veterinary clinic with tiered pricing, allowing all families access to affordable healthcare for their fur babies.
A city-run shelter also offers educational resources and adoption, including Free Feline Fridays when adoption fees are waived. Speaking of felines, Bloomington has two charities dedicated to cats: Ranch Cat Rescue, which is home to around 100 adoptable kitties, and Feral Cat Friends, which focuses on TNR (trap, neuter, return) for community cats.
3. Charlotte, North Carolina
With over 230 parks in and around Charlotte, perhaps it’s no surprise that this city ranked well in the parks category of the pet-friendly cities model. The largest is the 98-acre Freedom Park, where the paved lakefront path and dog park are popular with pups.
The city has a few dog parks, but the newest, which opened this spring, is by far the biggest. Located at the world-famous Whitewater Center, Off Leash spans 70 acres of woods, ponds, a pebble beach, a dog wash station and a shop with treats for people and pets.
The city also has a very active humane society. Along with the usual services, they offer dog training, cat yoga and fun volunteer opportunities like Reading Buddies, where you or your child can read to a cat or dog who might be stressed in the shelter.
4. Columbia, Tennessee
For a city with a population under 50,000, Columbia has an impressive lineup of pet-friendly amenities. Their visitors’ bureau lists over a dozen attractions travelers can enjoy with Fido by their side. That includes indulging in artisan ice cream or pup cups at Hattie Jane’s Creamery, shopping for souvenirs at Needle & Grain, enjoying a brew at Taps Off Main and strolling scenic Riverwalk Park. Outdoor lifestyle shop Southern Exposure even has a Bark Bar with complimentary treats.
For off-leash play, visit Muletown Bark Park. It’s GreenCircle Certified, with recycled equipment like a fire hydrant leap and weave posts. It’s part of the much larger Maury County Park, a 242-acre oasis with trails, picnic pavilions and a miniature train.
Columbia’s shelters were also rated well by Better Cities for Pets. The Maury County Animal Services spent the past two years becoming even more responsive to community needs. They offer animal medical services, an easy online adoption application and help reunite lost pets with their owners.
5. Jersey City, New Jersey
Want to let Spot run free? You can in Jersey City. The city has over a half dozen dog parks, leading to their high marks in the Better Cities for Pets parks category.
Visit Lincoln Park, the biggest park in the county, for its dog park and several trails. Or challenge your pooch on the agility course at the waterfront Harborside Community Dog Park. For scenic strolls, hit up the 18-mile Hudson River Waterfront Walk or Liberty State Park, where you can snap a selfie of you and your furball with Lady Liberty in the background.
Beyond parks, residents can take advantage of over 40 dog-friendly restaurants, behavior specialists for both dogs and cats, pet spas and more. NJ Transit also allows pets in carriers onboard, making travel easier for owners of cats and smaller dogs.
6. Key West, Florida
Key West is a two-time Better Cities for Pets grant recipient. The first grant helped them keep pets out of shelters by offering free or low-cost pet services for qualifying families. The second focused on assisting people to find and keep pet-friendly rental homes.
In their Better Cities for Pets certification, they scored well in the shelters category. The Florida Keys SPCA does much more than your typical animal welfare nonprofit, including finding forever homes for smaller critters like bunnies and hamsters. They provide a pet food pantry for families in tough times, hurricane preparedness resources, free adoptions of animals 6 or older to anyone 60 or older and a monthly Yappy Hour.
Education is also a big part of their mission. Sign your kids up for Critter Camp, where they’ll learn to interact with and care for animals, equipping the next generation of responsible pet owners.
7. Kansas City, MO
Families in KC have plenty of ways to spoil their four-legged kids. There’s the members-only Kansas City Dog Club, the Bar K Dog Bar (which is what you get if you combine a coffee shop, bar and dog park) and Three Dog Bakery, a made-from-scratch puppy patisserie. Over a dozen Kansas City breweries and wineries invite you to sip with your canine by your side.
Meanwhile, cat lovers can lounge, do yoga or even paint with kitties at Whiskers Cat Café and Coffeehouse. Each is adoptable, so you might go home with a new friend.
Kansas City ranks highest in the Better Cities for Pets’ homes trait, a measure of how cities keep pets and families together. The KC Pet Project offers crisis fostering to owners who need temporary care for their pets, part of Keep ’Em Together, KC, a program helping reduce unnecessary pet surrender. The nonprofit served over 15,000 pets last year.
8. Reno, Nevada
Reno stands out for pet owners, especially when it comes to parks. The most popular is easily the 580-acre Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, which includes two dog parks, gardens, wetlands and a giant lawn where you can watch a free hot air balloon race every October.
In addition to its Better Cities for Pets certification, Reno was also awarded a Better Cities for Pets grant in 2022 to improve vet care for the pets of senior citizens and the unhoused community. Meanwhile, the local cat cafe, Kitty Kisses, does its part to help pet owners by offering free monthly cat food for those in need.
And if you’re flying with your pup, the certified pet-friendly Reno-Tahoe International Airport has you covered. It offers three ADA-accessible animal relief areas as well as bark parks with running water, mutt mitts for cleanup, a fire hydrant and a rain canopy.
9. Gainesville, Florida
One place Gainesville shines, according to Best Cities for Pets, is their shelters. This includes not just the local humane society, which supports adoption, fostering and pet health, but also nonprofits like Second Chance Rescue & Rehoming, where dogs and cats slated for euthanasia get a new lease on life.
When it’s time for play, Gainesville has several parks and even the stunning Kanapaha Botanical Gardens that welcome leashed canines. For a rousing game of fetch, consider the private 15-acre Must Love Dogs Park or the city-owned Possum Creek Park.
But the coolest hangout has to be Lebowski’s Pup Pub, a full-service bar on Main Street with a dog park staffed by “BOWncers” who keep an eye on things and can break up any scuffles with a well-timed spritz. Lebowski’s hosts trivia, bingo, comedy and other events that are a great way to meet fellow pet parents.
10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Overachiever that it is, Philadelphia scored high in both the homes and parks categories of the pet-friendly cities model.
For mess-free play, visit the K9Grass-covered Schuylkill River Dog Park with water fountains, separate dog runs for smaller pups, and pools to cool off in warm weather. At Seger Park, enjoy seasonal events like Woofstock in summer and Santa Paws for the holidays. Need more room to roam? It’s at Fairmount Park, the largest landscaped urban park in the world, with over 2,000 acres of riverfront trails, woods and gentle hills.
To keep pet homes together, the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) runs low-cost clinics on the north and south sides of town. They also rescue and rehome thousands of dogs and cats every year. Don’t miss their annual Mutt Strut, a fall festival with live music, a beer garden, paw print painting, a costume contest and doggie fortune telling. With so many Fido-friendly options, it’s no wonder Philly has earned a Better Cities for Pets certification.