There’s a lot to think through when working to make public spaces pet friendly, from the amount of space needed to the importance of amenities. But it’s not just about the space itself. These four important watchouts can also help you think through considerations to make your pet-friendly space a success.

Population, Size and Location Matter

If there’s a high concentration of pet owners in an area, it’s vital to ensure that pet-friendly spaces (particularly off-leash spaces) can adequately accommodate them. Too many pets and people in a small area can create heightened stress for pets and people, which can result in reactive or uncharacteristic behavior.

You’ll also want to consider how your pet-friendly space will be used. For example, don’t fill it with items like permanently installed agility equipment if the space isn’t large enough to also accommodate pets’ need to run and play.

In addition, think through how activities in the area might affect pets. For example, don’t plan a pet-friendly space near an area with frequent loud or surprising noises, such as  playgrounds, emergency vehicle sirens, very loud music or fireworks. These could scare pets and cause negative behavior or runaways.

Finally, think about events held in or near your pet-friendly space and how they could affect pets. For example, don’t have tempting food items at dog height where they could cause food aggression or other behavior problems.

Appropriate Maintenance is Key

Even the most cordial of communities can become contentious if people find they’re having to navigate around pet waste, pet-related trash, unpleasant smells or other issues.

Having a single identified entity responsible for maintaining and cleaning pet-friendly spaces is vital. This can be a city department, business improvement district team, local business or even an individual who commits to consistently monitoring and handling needs, but a pet-friendly space can’t succeed without them.

The responsible party must have, or be able to readily access, the proper equipment and supplies to maintain and clean the property. Importantly, the ownership for these tasks must be well established and clearly communicated, for example by having signage and providing a number to call to report issues.

Remembering (and Listening to!) Non-Pet Owners

We love pets! But not everyone does. Whether because of personal preference, safety concerns or assumptions about pets and public health, some people feel strongly about keeping pets out of public spaces.

To find the best solutions that satisfy both pet owners and non-pet owners alike, it helps to make non-pet owners part of the process. Invite input at the earliest stages, to understand what perceptions are out there and how they can be addressed.

In some cases, actions might be required, for example planning more frequent cleaning of pet-friendly spaces if pet waste odors are a concern. In other cases, you may be able to debunk incorrect information and education about the benefits of pets in communities.

By listening to and understanding concerns within the community, you can build a local program that helps mitigate them.

Responsible Pet Ownership Helps Make It Work for All

You can have all the pet amenities in the world, but without responsible pet ownership (RPO), your pet-friendly space may still not succeed. From picking up pet waste to ensuring positive pet interactions, pet owners play a huge role in making sure there isn’t community frustration about pet-friendly spaces.

This means making RPO education part of your planning from day one, so you can make design decisions that support pets and pet owners. Consider testing dog-friendly public spaces on-leash before making them off-leash, so you can see how your space works for pets and if any adjustments are needed.

Similarly, test messaging on signage to make sure it communicates the expectations related to leash use, picking up pet waste and other requirements. Good signage helps educate pet owners about their responsibilities while also inspiring compliance.

Talk with local pet experts for input on the tools, infrastructure and education that will best set up pets and pet owners for success. Plus, check out our RPO Communication and Signage toolkits for thought starters for your community. Find more tips for planning pet-friendly spaces in our resource “Key Features of Successful Pet-Friendly Green Spaces and Dog Parks.”