Earlier this year, the Urban Dog Group expanded to St. Petersburg, which was recently named the third most pet-friendly city in the country by WalletHub. The ranking was based on three factors: pet budget, pet health and wellness, and outdoor pet-friendliness. It’s no secret that their pet-friendly vibe is one of the many reasons we picked this location.
For today’s blog post, let’s dig into why St. Petersburg is such a special spot for pet owners.
To start, be sure to bring your four-legged friend with you on your next trip to the beach! Two award-winning beaches in St. Petersburg are also dog-friendly.
Fort De Soto Park
Fort De Soto is a county park of over 1,100 acres. Dogs are allowed anywhere in the park on a six-foot leash. Better yet, they have their own fenced-in beach, called Paw Playground, that’s divided into separate sections for small and large dogs. Here, your K9 companion can run off-leash in the sun and sand and even splash in the surf of the Gulf of Mexico. On extra hot days, your dog can still stay comfortable, thanks to cooling stations with showers and dog water fountains. The playground is open daily from 7 a.m. to sundown, year-round, unless otherwise indicated.
Other amenities include camping, nature trails, concessions, picnic areas, playgrounds, lifeguards, and wheelchair access as well as restrooms, showers, and bathhouses.
Honeymoon Island State Park
If your dog loves to walk and hike, look no further than Honeymoon Island State Park! Thanks to four miles of sandy beaches and miles more of nature trails, your pup will be a happy camper. Keep your dog in a six-foot leash as you wade into the shallow water — the perfect depth for dogs to comfortably cool off. The dog beach is located at the southernmost tip of Honeymoon Island, giving you and your furry friend room to roam as you take in the beautiful view of Caladesi Island and the Gulf of Mexico. It’s open from 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year.
Other amenities include concession stands, picnic areas, a playground, bathhouses, restrooms, showers, and wheelchair access.
As a pet-friendly realtor, part of the Urban Dog Group’s mission is to build up local businesses that support people and their pets.
With that thought in mind, we’ve enjoyed getting involved with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Tampa Bay. This non-profit animal welfare agency runs a for-all animal shelter as well as a public pet hospital. We are also members of St. Pete PAWS, a group of local business owners and volunteers who focus on making the city of St. Petersburg more pet-friendly for its residents. Additionally, we’ve been fortunate to sponsor a number of events at The Dog Bar, including bingo night, trivia night, and a monthly dog wash.
What better place for the Urban Dog Group to be than St. Petersburg!
Let The Urban Dog Group help you with your real estate needs. Contact Christine Elias at caerealestate@gmail.com.