Where Does Your Dog Want to Live?

Now that some 67% American households have at least one pet and that some $75.38B will be spent on those pets in 2019, according to the American Pet Products Association, it’s no surprise that some real estate agents are coupling open houses with pet adoptions.

It’s also no surprise that WalletHub measured pet friendliness in our 100 largest cities in its latest study. WalletHub used the following metrics to determine pet friendliness:

• Pet budget – veterinarian costs, pet-care provider costs such as boarding and day care, pet health insurance costs
• Pet health & wellness costs – the number of pet care professionals, dog-friendly restaurants and animal shelters per capita, strength of local animal protection organizations
• Outdoor pet friendliness – park land, dog parks and dog friendly trails per capita

WalletHub averaged the scores in the above categories to determine its final rankings of dog-friendly cities.

WalletHub’s 10 Most Dog Friendly Cities

1. Scottsdale AZ
   1. 1^st place for health & wellness
   2. High outdoor friendliness score
2. Orlando FL
   1. High health & wellness scores
   2. High budget scores
3. Tampa FL
   1. High outdoor friendliness
   2. High health & wellness scores
4. Austin TX
   1. 2^nd place for health & wellness scores
   2. High health & wellness scores
5. Phoenix AS
   1. High outdoor friendliness
   2. High health & wellness scores
6. Las Vegas NV
   1. 4^th for outdoor friendliness
   2. High health & wellness scores
7. Atlanta GA
   1. 6^th place for health & wellness
   2. High budget score
8. Louis MO
   1. High budget score
   2. High health & wellness scores
9. Seattle WA
   1. 7^th place for health & wellness
   2. High outdoor friendliness score
10. Portland OR
    1. High outdoor friendliness score
    2. High health & wellness score

WalletHub’s 10 Worst Dog Friendly Cities

1. Detroit MI
   1. 97^th place for health & wellness
   2. Low outdoor friendliness score
2. Aurora CO
   1. Low budget score
   2. Low outdoor friendliness score
3. Nashville TN
   1. Low outdoor friendliness
   2. Low budget score
4. Newark NJ
   1. 94^th place for budget
   2. 92^nd place for outdoor friendliness
5. Santa Ana CA
   1. 95^th place for budget
   2. Low outdoor friendliness
6. Chula Vista CA
   1. Low budget score
   2. Low health & wellness score
7. Milwaukee WI
   1. 98^th place for health & wellness
   2. Low outdoor friendliness
8. Buffalo NY
   1. Low outdoor friendliness score
   2. Low health & wellness score
9. Laredo TX
   1. 100^th place for health & wellness
   2. Low outdoor friendliness score
10. Fresno CA
    1. 98^th place for health & wellness
    2. Low budget score