In 2018 dog owners, myself included, are tending to go above and beyond for our furry friends.
In Jacksonville, pets have plenty of parks and dozens of grooming salons, specialized treatment facilities and day care options.
Based on news of the past few weeks, Jacksonville certainly is going to the dogs.
Puppy-inclusive amenities are growing in popularity.
Apartment complex owners, bars and now an NFL team are recognizing that a pet’s happiness is important when recruiting the next wave of college graduates and young professionals to Jacksonville.
Let’s begin in the Brooklyn neighborhood.
Kanine Social is open to provide dog day care along with an indoor-outdoor dog park that will set up to sell adult beverages for those spending time with their pups.
While day care, day camp or bringing your dog to a craft brewery isn’t new, Kanine Social’s concept is.
Owners Dustin Fries and Daniel Moffatt don’t believe you should have to choose between spending quality time with your dog and hanging out with your human friends.
They created a space that allows your pups to run while you enjoy a cold brew coffee or a cold adult beverage.
Dogs have free range over most of the 12,000-square-foot complex with separate indoor and outdoor park space.
The day care side of the business opened Aug. 6, and the rest of the park opens to the public next weekend.
Beginning Aug. 30, they’ll serve beer and wine in addition to kombucha, craft sodas and coffee — for the humans, of course.
For more information about Kanine Social, visit Kaninesocial.com.
Also this week, the “big cats” embraced their canine counterparts in what appears to be a unique sponsorship deal.
Pet Paradise debuts its in-stadium dog park above the south end zone of TIAA Bank Field as the Jacksonville Jaguars welcome the New Orleans Saints to town Thursday for the first preseason game of the year.
Each home game, 10 dogs can enjoy a bone-shaped pool and separate play area while the Jaguars handle their opponents on the field. There also will be five to 10 dogs from the Jacksonville Humane Society looking for their forever homes.
Dogs are selected through a weekly contest and given a “test run” at a Pet Paradise facility before they can attend a game.
A veterinarian and Pet Paradise staff will be on-site to ensure the canines have a doggone good time.
The game-camp is one of the creative sponsorship deals since Shad Khan bought the Jaguars before the 2012 season.
Pet Paradise and the Jaguars don’t consider the idea to be far-fetched.