St. Pete PAWS puts the City of St. Petersburg’s pet-friendly proclamation into action, making St. Petersburg a place where pets are happy, healthy and welcome. It shines a light on the unconditional love animals give and promotes compassion for all our two-legged and four-legged neighbors.

St. Petersburg is a city where pets are welcome and owners are caring, nurturing guardians working together to provide safe and secure environments.

Mayor's Pet-Friendly Business Program

Businesses are invited to apply for the Mayor's Pet-Friendly Business program to take part in the movement to make St. Pete a place where pets are happy, healthy and welcome. 
Application and eligibility requirements can be found here
Businesses that sign up for the program will receive:

• Recognition in the pet-friendly map
• Window decal
• Shareable social media graphic
• Informational resources for hosting pets and more

Responsible Pet Ownership

Pet-friendly communities thrive when pet owners are responsible and respectful. In addition to picking up and disposing of dog waste, follow these rules to ensure safe, welcoming communities. 

Public Locations:

• Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet long in areas open to the public, including City parks.
• Dogs may be off leash in fenced, designated dog parks.
• Dogs may be off leash in enclosed or limited areas for an event of limited duration as designated by City Council.
• Dogs are prohibited from athletic fields and playgrounds.

Private Locations:

• Dogs must be on a leash at a premises other than the dog owner’s, unless given permission by the property owner or occupant.
• Dogs may be off leash within a fenced area on or off the premises of the owner.

Adapted from City Ordinance Sec. 4-55.
Businesses that serve food are still required to obtain a Dog Dining permit through the Planning and Economic Development Department.  More information and ann application can be found here

Seasonal Tips: Hurricane Season

For many, pets are part of the family. Remember to consider your pets when preparing for hurricane season. Find pet-friendly shelters and the pet survival kit HERE.

Seasonal Tips: Summer

To keep your pets safe this summer, follow these precautions from the experts at the ASPCA:

1. Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors.
2. Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse.
3. Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.
4. Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool- not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats.
5. Open unscreened windows pose a real danger to pets, who often fall out of them. Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed, and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured.
6. Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog. The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat.
7. When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pet’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
8. Remember that food and drink commonly found at barbecues can be poisonous to pets.