Tampa Goes To The Dogs: City Earns Top Pet-Friendly Status

TAMPA, FL — As the country celebrates National Dog Day, Tampa pet owners can relax in the knowledge that they're living in a city known nationwide for catering to four-legged friends.

The personal finance website, WalletHub, released its list of 2020's Most Pet-Friendly Cities with Tampa ranking No. 1 on the list.

To further clinch Tampa's fur-friendly reputation, the money management website SmartAsset released its Most Pet-Friendly Cities in America 2020 Edition, and Tampa ranked sixth on the list.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor couldn't help but brag about the city's status on Twitter, posting photos for the city's "first dog, Alcaldesa, making herself home in Castor's office.

A year ago in August, Castor adopted the mixed breed from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, naming her Alcadesa, which appropriately mean "mayoress" in Spanish.

Since then, "Desa" has been Castor's constant shadow and the hands-down most photographed dog in Tampa Bay, showing up in just about every photo taken of the mayor.

“I asked them (the Humane Society) if they would get us an office dog that we could test drive around here. The one stipulation was that the dog had to be friendly," Castor said.

Castor said the Humane Society couldn't have chosen a more friendly dog.

“She just brings a smile to everybody’s face and it changes your day. You walk through the door in the morning and everyone sees her, comes up, pets her and that’s how conversations start and that’s how morale improves,” Castor said.

Desa isn't the only reason for Tampa its pet-friendly status. The city was lauded for its support of pet rescues and pet adoption events such as the annual Clear the Shelters nationwide pet adoption drive.

Moreover, Tampa has the sixth-highest number of dog parks per 100,000 residents across the country. Tampa dog parks include Curtis Hixon Dog Park, Davis Islands Dog Beach, Deputy John Kotifla Dog Park, JBL Riverfront Park Dog Park, Picnic Island Dog Beach, Queenie Dog Park, Rowlett Dog Park and Queenie's Dog Park at Water Works Park as well as other places to bring your including Sparkman Wharf and Old Hyde Park Village.

Tampa earned high marks for its pet-friendly restaurants, bars, breweries, hotels, apartment complexes and offices.

Tampa pet lovers also support a healthy number of pet-related businesses including dog walkers, pet sitters, groomers, all-natural and specialty pet food stores, boarding facilities, pet spas and day cares, veterinarians, dog washes and trainers.