Charleston is one of the best U.S. cities for dog owners, according to a September study from outdoor home services Plowz and Mowz.
“The city of Charleston has seven fenced dog runs and about seven off-leash areas that are not fenced,” said Jason Kronsberg, director of parks for the city of Charleston.
The Holy City ranked 13th in the study of 50 cities. Among its positives: lots of dog parks and lots of dog walkers. Data showed the area had 131.8 dog parks and 608.4 dog walkers when calculated per million residents.
The study also cited Charleston’s many trails, canine-friendly restaurants and temperate year-round weather. In total, Plowz and Mowz gave Charleston a dog-friendly rating of 9.1 out of 10 based on good weather days and pet activities per capita.
Parks and recreation
Residents seem to bark with praise about the city’s dog-friendly environment.
“They have great parks here [in Charleston],” said dog owner Mark Appelt while recently playing a game of fetch with Penny, his border collie, at Hampton Park Dog Run. Penny “likes to run around after I throw the ball for her,” he added as she jogged toward him dutifully, mouth holding his tennis ball.
Torren Thomas, who has a dog named Cookie, said she takes her pet to the dog run often because it’s close to her home. According to Thomas, dog parks have an additional benefit: They boost dogs’ mental health by offering opportunities to socialize.
Kronsberg added Charleston’s popularity among pet owners is thanks to a combination of urban density, green space and walkability. Thomas concurred, crediting Charleston’s undeveloped spaces for dogs to run around and the variety of resources it provides.
Thomas also cited the abundance of animal shelters in Charleston.
“I got [Cookie] from the Charleston Animal Society,” she said, petting the black-and-brown pitbull mix whose name, according to Thomas, was inspired by the dog’s uniquely colored fur.
Responsible pet ownership
Kronsberg advised Charleston dog owners to enjoy the parks and the “wonderful climate” but to “pick up after your pets.” The city supplies 600,000 dog bags annually at stations throughout Charleston, according to Kronsberg, and he encouraged owners to use them appropriately.
“We try to provide our parks and open spaces to everybody,” he said. But dogs are not allowed everywhere. There’s a city regulation that prohibits pets from entering certain spaces, whether leashed or otherwise, as a way to promote responsible public pet ownership, he added.
Thomas said she was grateful to take Cookie to the beach, and “there’s rules for [the dogs]” such as whether they’re leashed, which a 2020 article in the Charleston City Paper discussed. Appelt added he often takes Penny to James Island County Park, where she can — in typical Charleston fashion — jump in the water.
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