By: Maggie English

The streets of a city is a place where you see feet walking and paws trotting from time to time. Most people would think dogs living in the city is not the best idea, as there are no places for the dog to run around and be a dog. Well, some dog parents make it work. 

 The dogs that live in Pittsburgh may have limited sources compared to the dogs in the suburb. The owners, living in the city take their dogs to parks and walk them around the streets. Certain places in cities are dog-friendly, but not all of them allow dogs to be in the buildings. 

Photo by: Maggie English

Pittsburgh has many parks that owners can take their dogs to. Bill Battistone has been living in Pittsburgh for 2 years with Remi, a 4-year-old Goldendoodle. Battistone said, “It is very dog-friendly, in a sense that there is always green space that is accessible. Because when you live in major cities that is the issue.” 

The open spaces that are provided in Pittsburgh are what help make this city such a dog-friendly place. Being able to find places to walk your dog and let them run around is important. Komron Maknoon is from Pittsburgh as well with Charlie, his 2 ½ year old recuse.

Photo by: Maggie English

Charlie was abused as a young puppy and has an uneasy temper, so having people trying to pet him is rough. Maknoon says, “You got to find spots for your dog to go. The other hardest thing about having a dog in the city is that people try to pet him when he doesn’t want to be pet.” 

Dogs in the city don’t get to run around like dogs in the suburbs do. They have to stay on a leash when in one of the parks in Pittsburgh as there are people around. But dogs in the suburbs can go run around in an open backyard. Just like Emma Federkeil and her two Bichon Frise, Jinx (4 years old) and Sunny (11 months old). She lives in Butler, PA where her two dogs love to run in the backyard.

Photo by: Emma Federkeil

Emma spoke about how she would worry about her dogs’ health when she is at work if she had a dog in the city. Also, she said that she thinks dogs would get more exercise in the suburbs than in the city as they are allowed off of their leashes and can do what they want in their own backyard. 

Walking in the city with their dogs, they are walking with purpose, and are trying to get their dogs out, but that rushes them. In the suburb, they are walking with leisure. This doesn’t mean that you can’t live with a dog in the city, it just means you have to try to switch things around in your schedule to work for you and your dog.  

Photo by: Maggie English

There are some bars around the city of Pittsburgh that are dog-friendly and some restaurants too. Also, the city has signs up that let the owners know not to let their dogs do their business in certain spots that the city wants to be kept clean.

 There are many restaurants around Pittsburgh that allow dogs in their stores like: Brusters, Redfin Blues, Square Cafe, and Silky’s Pub. The restaurants that allow dogs inside, help owners not worry about their dog feeling lonely when they go out to eat. Many hotels around the city are dog-friendly. The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh is one of the many hotels in Pittsburgh that allows any pet of any size with no fees to pay to let them stay the night. 

Photo by: Maggie English

These small restaurants and large hotels are also a big part of making Pittsburgh dog-friendly. The parks around Pittsburgh, such as  Point Park, and Pittsburgh Downtown Dog Park, allow dogs to run around and be a dog. 

Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership’s Digital and Online Content Coordinator, Colton Gill, spoke about Pittsburgh being dog-friendly. Gill said, “I think what makes Pittsburgh a dog-friendly city is that we’ve got a great community that values the companionship of having a dog. Where you might see other city’s push back against dogs, especially in the denser parts of the city, Pittsburgh has really embraced our four-legged friends.”  

Gill also spoke about how more and more places around Pittsburgh are starting to become more and more open spaces for dogs to sit at restaurants. More apartment buildings continue to allow dogs to stay with their owners there. Walking in the parks and seeing dogs running around playing with their owners is not common here in Pittsburgh. 

Pittsburgh is becoming more and more dog-friendly. There are more places for dogs to live and enjoy being a dog.