Tampa Ranks Second-Best Dog Friendly City in America

A new WalletHub study has ranked Tampa as North America's second-best city for dogs, looking at everything from costs to available green spaces.

With almost five dog parks for every 100,000 residents, Tampa sits at fourth place nationwide for park access. Dog owners can choose from 12 off-leash areas and multiple dog-friendly beaches, making it a perfect spot for pups to play.

The city's restaurants are super welcoming to pets. An impressive 242 restaurants let dogs join their owners in outdoor areas, putting Tampa at number 18 nationwide for pet-friendly dining.

Getting pet-friendly housing is easy here. Nearly 90% of rental properties allow pets, and many places offer special features like dog washing stations and designated dog parks.

Pet healthcare is easy to find. Tampa has 62.5 pet businesses for every 10,000 establishments, landing it the 39th spot nationally for pet care services.

The expenses are reasonable too. Tampa's pet insurance and vet costs match up well with other big cities.

The sunny weather means pets can play outside all year. Long waterfront walks and parks make daily exercise fun for both dogs and their owners.

The pet community is really active here. Events like Bark in the Park and Pup Crawl Tampa help pet lovers meet and connect with each other.

The city has multiple adoption centers working together to help pets find homes, offering support and information to new pet owners throughout adoption.

For busy pet owners, the city has plenty of pet care choices. A big network of daycares, kennels, and pet sitters helps keep pets happy when their owners are busy.