​St. Petersburg Launches Pet-Friendly Initiative -- St. Pete PAWS

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- On Wednesday, Feb. 20,. in honor of National Love Your Pet Day, the City of St. Petersburg rolled out a new initiative for people and their pets.

Last June, Mayor Rick Kriseman signed a proclamation declaring St. Petersburg a pet-friendly city. And on Wednesday the city put the proclamation into action.

"Last year, we joined the Better Cities for Pets initiative, and I proclaimed St. Petersburg to be a pet-friendly city. Today, on National Love Your Pet Day, this initiative follows up on that promise to do everything from reducing pet homelessness to having more businesses and restaurants welcoming to pets," said Kriseman.

He urges everyone to visit the St Pete PAWS website and check out the St. Pete Pet-Friendly map. The map includes pet-friendly restaurants, dog parks, pet services, accommodations and fire stations with pet oxygen masks.

Additionally, the city will soon roll out the Mayor's Pet-Friendly Business program. Businesses that meet the criteria can apply to participate in the growing directory.

Kriseman said the intent is to build a framework of pet-friendly and pet-centric businesses/organizations that work together to make pets feel wanted and welcomed.

Image via Rick Kriseman