Top Cities For Pet Lovers Include Sarasota, Bradenton: Apartment Guide

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Sarasota and Bradenton are among the top 10 cities for pet lovers in the U.S., according to a list released by Apartment Guide.

To create the list, the apartment blog reviewed vets, animal hospitals, shelters, washing and grooming services, training, boarding, and parks per capita and on a square-mile scale.

The No. 1 spot on the list is Sarasota, which boasts 74 vets and pet hospitals and 36 groomers in the city, according to Apartment Guide.

“While Brohard Paw Park near Venice Beach is Sarasota's only dog-friendly beach, nobody's going to stop you from taking your favorite skipper on a sailing trip to one of the many nearby Keys,” according to the list. “You'll also find ample parks and preserves where those with paws love to play and explore.”

Bradenton took the No. 7 spot on the list. Apartment Guide noted its “1.5- mile Riverwalk for waterside walking.”

“Judging by the data we crunched, pets in Bradenton are both healthy and well-coiffed, with 40 vets and pet hospitals and 23 grooming facilities in the area,” the list said. “Don't mind a little humidity? Perhaps it's time to acclimate your four-legged buddy to that sweet salty air.”

Other Florida cities on the list include Ocala at No. 10, Pensacola at No. 4 and Miami at No. 3.