Nov 11, 2019
Better Cities For Pets Annual Report highlights seven pet-friendly trends

Mars Petcare and its Better Cities for Pets program released its first Annual Report, demonstrating how pet ownership is shaping our communities. From housing and business policy to overarching economic health, pets are making a profound impact on our lives and thus the decisions to be more inclusive made by businesses, shelters and government. As part of the report, Mars Petcare has identified seven emerging trends in pet-friendly cities that are leading the way.

“We’re excited to share the inaugural Better Cities for Pets Annual Report, which highlights the latest trends in pet-friendly cities and what citizens want to see in their own communities. We created this report using data and insights from our collaboration with government officials and consumers across the country,” said Mark Johnson, president of Mars Petcare North America. “We look forward to following the journey of these cities as they continue to make progress, and we hope that this report serves as inspiration for other communities looking to drive change and welcome pets.”

Seven Trends to Watch

From “Pet-Friendly” to “Pet-Optimized” Pads:With the rise of people owning pets, rental property owners are increasing their pet-friendly amenities to offer more upscale, convenience-driven options.
Open for Business: Businesses are evolving their retail experiences and catering to pet owners by educating shoppers and offering new amenities like in-store pet-sitting and pet-friendly decals in their storefronts for easy navigation.
Pets as a Work Perk: An increasing number of employers are welcoming four-legged friends into the workplace to maintain and attract new talent and increase productivity.
Beyond Doggy Bags: Unique dining options for pooches and their human parents are growing across the country as pets on patio legislation becomes more popular.
Bringing Zen to Shelters: Shelters are sprucing up their environments to attract more potential adoptive families and make pets feel more at ease in their temporary homes.
Reclaiming Public Space: From Parklets to Barklets: Cities everywhere are transforming parking lots, street corners and sidewalks to establish gathering spaces for people and pets alike.
Pet “Paw-litics”: An increasing number of political leaders are advocating for animal rights and pet welfare as more of their constituents demand change.

Certified Cities

To-date, 31 cities have received the Better Cities for Pets certification.

Arlington, Texas
Bentonville, Arkansas
Bloomington, Indiana
Calumet City, Illinois
Cleveland, Ohio
Dallas, Texas
Downey, California
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Franklin, Tennessee
Gresham, Ohio
Hallandale Beach, Florida
Henderson, Nevada
Houston, Texas
Key West, Florida
Laguna Niguel, California
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
Memphis, Tennessee
Miami, Florida
Miami Lakes, Florida
Nashville, Tennessee
Oakland, California
Plano, Texas
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Reno, Nevada
Rochester, Michigan
Royalton, Minnesota
Santa Clarita, California
Southport, North Carolina
St. Petersburg, Florida
Topeka, Kanasas
Tucson, Arizona

Report Methodology

This year, Mars Petcare introduced the Better Cities for Pets certification to celebrate cities that have implemented pet-friendly programs and policies and committed to expanding their efforts to make people and pets welcome. To become certified, cities shared data on existing and future pet-friendly features related to the 12 traits of a pet-friendly city across the areas of businesses, parks, shelters and homes. Similarly, the company rolled out a consumer assessment, allowing citizens everywhere to offer input on the status of their city and what they’d like to see change.

The Better Cities for Pets Annual Report leverages data and insights from certified pet-friendly cities, consumer assessments, a consumer survey and recent studies from the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition and Banfield Pet Hospital. For more information on the Better Cities for Pets program, visit BetterCitiesForPets.com.