Most Dog Friendly Cities & More of the Most Pet Friendly Cities

If there’s one thing nearly everyone has in common, it’s love of pets. Many pet owners would do almost anything to ensure they’re happy and healthy, and there’s a lot that goes into their care.

Where you and your furry friend lives can affect everything from pet budget to outdoor pet-friendliness and even health and wellness.

Places that offer favorable conditions for pets and their owners are attractive for this reason. So let’s take a look at the best cities for dogs, cats, and other pets on the map below.

View Most Dog Friendly Cities in a full screen map

Best Cities for Dogs’ Health & Wellness

The health and wellness of our puppers and other pets is of the utmost importance, which is why WalletHub weighted this category above the others.

For this category, per capita rates of veterinarians, trainers, dog-friendly restaurants, doggie daycares, and boarding establishments are taken into consideration, among others. Additionally, the pet-friendliness of the rental market, average home square footage, and strength of animal protection laws, along with others are also noted to determine the following most pet friendly cities:

1. Laredo, Texas (100)
2. Honolulu, Hawaii (99)
3. Detroit, Michigan (98)
4. Milwaukee, Wisconsin (97)
5. Stockton, California (96)
6. Columbus, Ohio (95)
7. Norfolk, Virginia (94)
8. Toledo, Ohio (93)
9. Anchorage, Alaska (92)
10. Henderson, Nevada (91)

When it comes to health and wellness, Laredo is the best city for dogs and other pets (it’s also one of the cities with the best drivers, important when driving pets to and from parks and other places). Laredo happens to be the only Texan city with top marks, though that’s not uncommon in this case.

Of the top 10 dog friendly cities, only Ohio boasts two: both Columbus and Toledo rank highly in pet health and wellness. While there aren’t many states with two top pet cities, the Midwest region is where four are located: the two Ohio cities along with Detroit and Milwaukie.

Now let’s see how these cities hold up in a different pet-friendly category: budget.

Top Pet Friendly Cities on a Budget

When it comes to the best cities for dogs, cats, and other pets, budget may also be top of mind. Pet owners can spend between hundreds to thousands of dollars on their furry friends each year.

So you can see why places that offer favorable conditions for pets and their owners are attractive. Let’s take a look at the U.S. cities with the most beneficial pet budget: vet cost, minimum pet-care provider rate per visit, and dog insurance premium below.

1. Fremont, California (100)
2. San Francisco, California (99)
3. Santa Ana, California (98)
4. Irvine, California (97)
5. Los Angeles, California (96)
6. New York, New York (95)
7. Anaheim, California (94)
8. Long Beach, California (93)
9. San Diego, California (92)
10. Washington, D.C. (91)

Some of the most dog-friendly cities in the world are in California. Specifically, Fremont is ranked the best among pet budget, closely followed by several other South coastal cities in the Golden State.

In total, of the top 10 most pet friendly cities in the U.S. in regards to budget, eight are located in California. N.Y.C. and D.C. are also notable for their favorable budget conditions for both pets and their owners.

And while not in the top 10, Chicago, Illinois, closely follows with a pet budget score of 90. To view top cities in the third category, outdoor friendliness, sort the map as such.

Most Pet Friendly Cities Overall

Taking all three pet-friendliness categories (pet health and wellness, budget, and outdoor pet-friendliness) into account, you can see where each of the 100 cities falls with a total score on the map. Or, here’s a summary of the top 10 most pet friendly cities overall:

And for less house-friendly yet still lovable furry friends, be sure to check out our map of the national animals of every country.