Pink ears!
The city of furry love! I felt it when I lived there and took my dog to a weekly Yappy Hour in Fairmont Park. Fun.
Just got this press release in and it is so great, I thought I’d share it. Next trip to Philly, the pooch is coming!
PHILADELPHIA, September 29, 2016 — Pet lovers are crazy about their animal companions—and, according to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, Canadians spend nearly $6.6 billion a year in Canada on pet services and accoutrements to prove it. For those who love to spoil their pet but hate to leave him behind while travelling, the Philadelphia region proves to be the “purr-fect” getaway. Pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, shops and parks welcome visitors and their animals, so it’s easy to bring furry friends along for the ride.
Four-“Bone” Hotels:
Delaware County’s Brandywine River Hotel welcomes dogs in pet-friendly rooms for a $25-per-dog-per-night fee for those 25 pounds or lighter and a $45 fee for bigger pooches. Dogs must be crated when guests are not in the room.
Just northwest of Center City, amid a lively business district, the historic Chestnut Hill Hotel accepts any-sized canine guests with a signed waiver and an owner cell phone number.
Pet lovers can spend the night at Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Philadelphia at no extra charge for their furry friends. There is no limit on the number of pets or type of pet, nor a restriction on size or weight; however, guests must sign a waiver of liability. All visitors receive a Very Important Pet (VIP) gift in the room. Food bowls, beds and leashes are also provided.
Hotel Palomar Philadelphia welcomes pets of all kinds, with no limit on size or weight. Animals are offered a VIP amenity upon arrival and bowls and beds in the room, as well as leashes and plastic bags. Pet sitting, walking and grooming services can be arranged via the Department of Pet Relations; the staff can also offer advice about nearby parks and pet-friendly dining.
Animals get the royal treatment at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel with its Loews Loves Pets program and VIP menu of services, as well as treats upon check-in. Not only does the hotel provide dogs and cats with loaner beds, bowls, litter boxes, leashes and collars, but they also offer a map of dog-walking routes, veterinarians, pet shops and other resources. The cost is $35 per reservation (two pets maximum per room), with pet-friendly rooms located on the 10th floor.
Dogs are welcome to spend the night at the Franklin Hotel at Independence Park under the following conditions: Fido must weigh 25 pounds or less, and hotel guests must supply a credit card number in case of incidentals. A non-refundable cleaning fee of $50 per visit applies.
The Residence Inn Center City welcomes pets, with no size or weight restrictions. The property does require that owners keep pets leashed while on the premises. Guests pay a $250 non-refundable fee to cover the cost of an outside cleaning service.
At The Rittenhouse, cats and dogs of all shapes and sizes are invited to stay, and they receive water, food bowls and treats upon arrival. A $150 nonrefundable pet fee applies per room. While pets cannot be left unattended, the concierge is happy to make arrangements for a sitter.
Dogs can put on the ritz at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, where pups under 30 pounds are welcomed with water bowls, toys, treats and collars—all free of charge. The hotel asks guests for advance notice of a pet’s arrival. While on the premises, animals must be accompanied by their human companions at all times. Dogs can make themselves right at home for a non-refundable fee of $250 per pet, per reservation.
The Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel rolls out welcome mats to well-behaved canine guests weighing less than 50 pounds for a $50 nonrefundable fee. The hotel requests that owners accompany their dogs at all times.
The Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill Hotel welcomes dogs up to 40 pounds (a deposit may apply) and simply asks that guests sign a waiver stating that the dog will not be left alone. Conveniently located close to walking paths along the Delaware River Waterfront, the Historic Philadelphia property offers Suite Sleeper dog beds by request.
Dogs weighing up to 80 pounds can spend the night at the Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel at no extra charge. The hotel requests that canine guests not be left unattended during their stay.
The Sofitel Philadelphia stays true to its French roots by welcoming pets weighing less than 30 pounds to stay for a refundable incidentals fee of $300. Bowls, beds, treats and a room-service pet menu are also available. There is a policy of no more than one pet per room, and pets must be crated when unattended.
Chow Time:
High Street on Market, Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar and Red Owl Tavern are just three of the many Historic Philadelphia restaurants within a short distance to Independence Hall—and with outdoor seating open to leashed pets.
In trendy Fishtown, pups and their people have a howling good time along Frankford Avenue at a variety of establishments with outdoor seating, including Heffe Tacos, Root, Café La Maude and Johnny Brenda’s.
West of Center City, dogs and their owners stroll along Manayunk’s Main Street, which is lined with cafes, boutiques and galleries. Jake’s and Cooper’s Wine Bar, Winnie’s Le Bus Manayunk and Manayunk Tavern are just three of the eateries with a range of casual cuisine for humans—and bowls of water for Fido.
Along East Passyunk Avenue, South Philly’s restaurant row, Italian eateries Paradiso Restaurant and Wine Bar and Le Virtù, as well as sushi spot Izumi, dim-sum destination Bing Bing and Mexican hangout Cantina Los Caballitos offer outdoor seating and tableside water bowls for pets.
At Rouge and Parc, right across from upscale and dog-friendly Rittenhouse Square, four-legged friends enjoy bowls of water and treats, while their human companions indulge in upscale bistro fare.
At West Chester’s Teca, pets belly up to the water bowl outside along busy Gay Street while owners enjoy tasty Italian fare.
Fairmount Park’s heaven for dogs and humans alike, Valley Green Inn is a way station for dog walkers, bikers and pet owners, with plenty of outdoor seating available. Water bowls are available for dogs.
There’s room for more than just students in University City, home to the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. Pet owners can dine outside at the White Dog Café and score a bowl of water for their pooch.
See Spot Shop:
South Philadelphia’s Amelie’s Bark Shop is part all-natural pet treat bakery and part high-end pet products shop. Hand-crocheted dog sweaters, catnip sushi toys and homemade peanut butter squirrel treats are among the standouts of this specialty pet supplier.
Bonejour Pet Supply & Dog Wash in Old City caters to dogs and cats with healthy treats and chews, quality toys and a wall full of fashions. The shop also carries practical collars, harnesses, leashes, carrying cases and natural and holistic foods and remedies. Pet bathing services come full-service or at a do-it-yourself station. For a fee, the boutique offers delivery of pet food and cat litter within Philadelphia city limits.
Concord Pet Foods & Supplies has been serving Chester County pets and their owners since 1981. Carrying 40 brands of premium pet foods, as well as beds, toys and crates, the store prides itself on having “everything your pet needs.”
With eight locations around town and one in the suburbs, Doggie Style proves pet loving is good business. The shops provide high-quality products and services, plus grooming services and pet adoptions. The company recently launched an online store offering Center City residents same-day delivery.
For eco-friendly pet shampoos and coat treatments, owners head to Duross & Langel, a vegan soap maker-meets-hair salon in Philadelphia’s Washington Square West neighbourhood.
At sister stores Fairmount Pet Shoppe and Baltimore Pet Shoppe, all-natural pet food and supplies (litter, toys, grooming tools, apparel) aren’t all that’s on display: The jam-packed shops also play host to adoptable cats, who can usually be founding catching a snooze in the stores’ street-facing windows.
Made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients, bakery-fresh dog treats and cakes tempt canine customers at Just Dogs and Cats. The cozy, family-owned pet shop also stocks dog and cat toys, collars, leashes and apparel, plus a smattering of gifts for pet lovers.
Street Tails Animal Rescue is a dog adoption center in Northern Liberties. Also on-site: Thrift for Tails, Philly’s first secondhand pet shop, stocks gently used pet items, and proceeds benefit the rescue.
For hipster and non-hipster pets alike, Rittenhouse Pet Supply offers fun and fashionable sweaters, collars and leashes, as well as premium dog and cat food that can be home delivered in close proximity to the store. Cats are also available for adoption.
Pooch Playtime:
Chester County is known for its open spaces, including French Creek State Park, with nearly 7,800 acres of well-marked hiking trails (35 miles of trails within the creek alone), campgrounds and two lakes—truly a canine paradise. Leashed dogs are also welcome at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, a restored iron plantation on 848 acres with 12 miles of hiking trails.
The Front & Chestnut Dog Park (also known as I-95 Park) is enclosed with short fences and attracts some informal romping.
In Delaware County, dogs on leashes can roam throughout the Haverford College campus, a beautiful setting with nature trails and a duck pond, while Smedley Park encompasses 120 pet-friendly acres of nature trials and picnic areas.
The two-mile Manayunk Towpath along the canal is ideal for dog walking. There are numerous access points along Main Street.
A relative newcomer to the dog park scene is Market Street Dog Run. While it’s an authentic fenced-in run (pavement without grass) versus a park, the views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Delaware River just might make this run one that visitors and their pooches want to hightail it to.
A community-run dog park in Fishtown where all dogs are welcome, Palmer Doggie Depot is so warm and accepting that even a pet pig is known to frequent it.
Yoga enthusiasts can downward dog with their beloved, leashed pooch during free yoga sessions on the Delaware waterfront at Race Street Pier from April through October.
Rittenhouse Square is where all the downtown dogs go to sniff and be seen. Sunbathers, picnickers and pups share the lawn space in peace.
The Schuylkill River Park Dog Run is constructed from K9 grass, a revolutionary turf made specifically for dogs. It offers small and large runs with frost-free water fountains and separate entrances.
Between the Washington Square West and Bella Vista neighbourhoods, the member-run Seger Dog Park is a smaller dog park and completely enclosed.
Leashed pets are welcome at Valley Forge National Historical Park, a 3,500-acre park (with 30 miles of trails) that was home to Washington’s winter encampment in 1777. Washington and his troops first visited the site of Fort Washington State Park, where walking paths and 3.5 miles of hiking trails are open to leashed pets.
