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Report: Seven Pet-Friendly Trends Shaping Our Cities

National  + Weekender  | 

A new report from Mars Petcare and its Better Cities for Pets program shows how pet ownership is shaping our communities. From housing and business policy, to overarching economic health, pets are making a larger impact on our lives than ever before and thus the decisions to be more inclusive made by businesses, shelters and government.

“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,” 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.”

The report highlighted seven emerging trends in pet-friendly cities that are leading the way:

From “Pet-Friendly” to “Pet-Optimized” Living

With the rise of pet ownership, rental property owners are increasing pet-friendly amenities such as pet spas and dog parks to offer more upscale, convenience-driven options.

Business Time

Businesses are evolving 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.

Bring Your Pet to Work

Employers are becoming increasingly welcoming to four-legged friends in the workplace to maintain and attract new talent and increase productivity.

Doggy Dining

Dining options for dogs and their human parents are growing across the country, as pets on patio legislation becomes more popular.

Shelter Funding

Pet shelters across the nation are improving their environments to attract more potential adoptive families and make dogs and cats feel more at ease in their temporary homes.

Reclaiming Public Space

Cities nationwide are transforming parking lots, street corners and sidewalks to establish gathering spaces for people and pets alike.

Animal Rights Now

An increasing number of political leaders are advocating for animal rights and pet welfare, as more of their constituents demand change.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact David Cohen

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About David Cohen

David Cohen is Southeast Editorial Director at Connect Commercial Real Estate. David is a media veteran with more than 10 years of experience in journalism, copywriting and communications across a variety of roles. He is responsible for covering commercial real estate news and trends in the Southeast, Florida, Washington D.C. and Boston at Connect CRE as well as specializing in the Student Housing sector. Prior to joining Connect, David was the editor of Northeast Real Estate Business magazine and Student Housing Business magazine at France Media as well as spending time freelancing for ESPN and the Associated Press in the fast-paced field of live sports event production. He is also an owner and investor in multifamily real estate in Atlanta, GA. David currently resides in Atlanta and graduated from the College of Communication & Information at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.