Runners-up
Austin, Texas
Dogs: 300,000
People: 656,562
Highlights: An off-leash island — Red Bud Isle — just for dogs, proactively working toward a no-kill status at its shelters, community outreach, and focus on humane education.
“We love to enjoy outdoor activities with our dogs in Austin — hiking, running, and canoeing. Austinites even dine outside with their dogs on restaurant patios. My dog Sammy comes with me to eat out, exercise, and to relax. So many of Austin’s citizens choose to spend time with their dogs. It’s a great place to be a dog owner, or a dog.”
— Jennifer Kim, Austin City Council member
Carmel, Calif.
Dogs: 873
People: 4,081
Highlights: Amazing atmosphere, beautiful coastline, extraordinarily dog-friendly businesses and hotels, a 100 percent adoption rate, and several annual events welcoming dogs, including the Reindoggie Parade, Annual City Birthday parade, and Caber Parade.
“Dogs have played a very important part of our history … There’s no place you can’t take your dog. Animals are well thought of here. It’s just a part of our life in Carmel.”
— Sue McCloud, Mayor
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Dogs: 87,055
People: 402,417
Highlights: Proactive dog welfare laws, high spay-neuter rates, low euthanasia numbers, abundance of outdoor activities, more than 90 veterinarians, and several dog festivals.
“Colorado Springs is like a doggie paradise. Everyone knows dogs love to go for walks and hikes, and this is the perfect place. There are fantastic trails everywhere, lots of dog parks, and so many different things people can go do with their dogs. This community really gives pet owners a lot of opportunities to get out and enjoy the great outdoors with their best canine pal.”
— Ann Davenport, Director of Community Resources, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region
Fort Collins, Colo.
Dogs: 19,500
People: 130,000
Highlights: High adoption rates, state-of-the-art dog parks, home to Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital, a no-kill record of adoptable animals at the Larimer Humane Society, and miles of hiking trails.
“On any given day, you will find dogs and their people enjoying the sun in Historic Old Town, bellied up to the bar at New Belgium Brewing Company, or hiking some of the hundreds of miles of dog-friendly trails within the city and nearby in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The odds of finding someone in Fort Collins who doesn’t enjoy the company of a dog are pretty slim!”
— Cathy Jones, Tourism Marketing Manager, Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau
Long Beach, Calif.
Dogs: 50,000
People: 500,000
Highlights: Three-acre, off-leash Dog Beach Zone, superb community activists, activities such as the Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade, interfaith pet blessing, and above-average adoption rates.
“Our city of a half million people loves to love its dogs — and we like to celebrate dogs year-round. If you ask me, if a city’s dogs are happy, the city’s people are happy.”
— Justin Rudd, Founder, Haute Dogs, a community organization of dog lovers
Madison, Wis.
Dogs: 10,250
People: 221,551
Highlights: The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, the popular Dog Fest event, the Bark & Wine benefit aiding homeless animals, many dog-friendly parks, including four off-leash ones, and a focus on holistic and alternative veterinary care.
“The Madison area has something for every dog. From our numerous dog parks to our lakes to the world-class veterinary care at the University of Wisconsin, Madison is a great place to be a dog — or a dog owner.”
— Dave Cieslewicz, Mayor
Sanford, Fla.
Dogs: 10,235
People: 49,250
Highlights: Dog-friendly businesses and restaurants, Paw Park of Historic Sanford, cutting-edge animal legislation, the Sanford RiverWalk along Lake Monroe, the Howl-o-ween in the Boneyard costume party, and the Paw Park Birthday Bash.
“Sanford’s dogs contribute to our unique small town, close-knit, community feel. On any given day, your dog may visit the award-winning Paw Park of Historic Sanford, the new, state-of the-art Dog Day Afternoon [daycare-boarding-grooming facility], the Sanford RiverWalk, or dine with your dog in one of our outdoor cafés. [Our community] events bring people of all ages out to enjoy time with their dogs, showing Sanford’s sense of community spirit at its best.”
— Christine Dalton, Community Planner
Seattle, Wash.
Dogs: 125,000
People: 575,000
Highlights: Lots of green space, positive environment for dogs, proactive animal welfare laws, 80 percent adoption rate, 12 dog parks, and strong community support that led to $100,000 raised at the Seattle Animal Shelter’s eighth annual Furry 5K Fun Run and Walk. Dogs can visit Kubota Garden, Lake Washington Ship Canal and Ballark Locks, Pioneer Square, Seattle Center, Washington Park Arboretum, and Woodland Park Rose Garden.
“People love their dogs. [The strong community support during the Furry 5K] shows me we have a society here that recognizes the important role that dogs play in the lives of people.”
— Don Jordan, Executive Director, Seattle Animal Shelter
Kyra Kirkwood is a DOG FANCY contributing editor.
For more information on DogTown U.S.A. including an entry form for the 2008 contest, click here.
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