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By Giulia Carbonaro
Senior Reporter
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The city of Frederick, Maryland, has been crowned as the best in the country for dog owners and their pets, according to a new analysis by LawnStarter, a company that provides lawn care services in cities and towns across the United States.
An estimated 62 percent of Americans own a pet, according to 2023 data from the Pew Research Center, with nearly half—49 percent—owning only dogs. The latest data from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) estimates that the number of dog owners has grown over the past couple of years, reaching 51 percent of all U.S. households—or about 68 million households.
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A majority of pet owners in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center, consider their pets part of their family, treating them as human members. Those who only have dogs are even more likely to think of them as family members, with 53 percent saying so, compared with 48 percent among those who only have cats.
It goes without saying, then, that they would want their pets to be as happy as they can be—but this can be very different depending on where you are in the country, according to the LawnStarter study.
What Makes a City Great for Dog Owners and Their Dogs?
LawnStarter analyzed 500 U.S. metropolitan areas to find the one that offered the best environment for both dogs and their owners. Among the factors they considered were:
- Care, or the availability of veterinary and pet service networks (accounting for 36 percent of the total score);
- Community, or the availability of dog parks, walking routes, and local events for animals (28 percent);
- Business, or how dog-friendly a city’s commercial spaces (12 percent);
- Housing, or how well each city’s homes fit life with a dog (16 percent);
- Affordability, or how much it costs to have a dog compared to the local income (8 percent).
What are the Most Dog-Friendly Cities?
Taking into consideration all the factors described above, LawnStarted came up with the following top 10 most dog-friendly cities in the country:
- Frederick, Maryland (overall score of 49.92)
- Asheville, North Carolina (48.42)
- Scottsdale, Arizona (46.49)
- New York, New York (45.64)
- Santa Fe, New Mexico (44.35)
- Wilmington, North Carolina (43.18)
- Orlando, Florida (43.17)
- Santa Monica, California (42.51)
- Raleigh, North Carolina (42.01)
- Bend, Oregon (41.85)
It is a mix of smaller cities and huge metropolises, with New York's presence somewhat surprising. But while New York might not have the same number of green spaces as other, less developed cities, it can boost plenty of walkable streets, parks and access to pet amenities and vet care.
Frederick and Asheville rank first and second, respectively, thanks to their combination of top-rated vets, availability of dog sitters, strong community activities, and dog-friendly dining and shopping options. Santa Fe shines for its yard space, while New York offers frequent walks and plenty of socializing for dogs and their owners.
Even in cities that did not make the cut, or are deep down in the rankings, like Detroit (460th) or Kansas City (495th), there is room for improvement.
“Working with city planners and developers to make spaces dog friendly, for example more grass, waste disposal stations with bags provided, and water stations, is helpful,” Dr. Steven Marks, dean of Clemson University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, told LawnStarter.
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