HEARTBEAT OF HOUSTON
HOUSTON’S NEW CLAIM TO FAME: PET CITY BY LINDSEY PETERS
HOUSTON’S BEEN CALLED MANY THINGS—JOB CITY, SPACE CITY, BAYOU CITY—AND MOST RECENTLY THE CITY WITH NO LIMITS, REFLECTING THE OPENNESS, FRIENDLINESS, AND FORWARD-THINKING ATTITUDE OF ITS BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS. I BELIEVE MY VERSION OF HOUSTON FITS RIGHT IN WITH THESE ATTRIBUTES, AS THE CITY EXTENDS A WARM WELCOME NOT JUST TO ITS TWO-LEGGED CITIZENS BUT ALSO TO ITS FOUR-LEGGED ONES Houstonians love their pets, perhaps even more than they love their cars. For people like me, who believe that man’s best friends should be welcomed everywhere their owners go, the options are truly limitless. Places that cater to dogs have me and my pup coming back for more. Boneyard Dog Park and Drinkery has revolutionized the dog park experience. My own dog, Murphy, was practically begging me to stay just five more minutes after a play session in the 7,000-square-foot fenced dog park. Pet owners can let their dogs roam free, while they themselves enjoy one of the many local and Texas craft beers offered. An added appeal to the puppy paradise is Boneyard’s involvement in the community. A photo wall full of furry faces gets the news out about who needs a new home, and adoptions are often hosted right there at the bar. It’s definitely a go-to place for both species. I don’t know about you, but patio dining is one of my favorite ways to eat out, especially with Houston’s warm, tropical weather. Since 2010, an organization called Paws on Patios has been aiding Houston restaurants with obtaining permits from the City of Houston that will allow humans and their bark buddies to coexist in outdoor spaces. Porch Swing Pub, Backstreet Café, Hugo’s, and Gratifi Kitchen and Bar are just a few of the more than two dozen restaurants that
36 | OPPORTUNITY HOUSTON
now have paws-friendly patios. (Gratifi even offers “doggie dinners” served right to your table!) Long gone are the days when having animals at eating/drinking establishments was considered poor manners. Today many more bars, restaurants and even retail stores allow pets. It makes my tail wag to know that I can shop for the latest fashion trends at Anthropologie* and then cuddle up with a good book at Half Price Books* without having to leave my dog at home. I can even take him into the Container Store* so he can help shop for a new food bowl. We’ve covered eating, drinking and shopping with your pet, but how about entertainment? Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Miller Outdoor Theatre and San Jacinto Battleground are just a few Houston venues that offer fun for the whole family, even ones with tails. If you’re still looking for places to take your playmate, you are a die-hard dog lover. To you I say, when all else fails, find a good old-fashioned dog park (there are more than 20 to choose from!) Nothing beats getting back to the basics by finding some open space with plenty of room to chase a few tennis balls.
*Specific location regulations at managers’s discretion
OFF-LEASH DOG PARKS DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS HERMANN PARK
BAY AREA DOG PARK
LEVY DOG PARK
7500 Bay Area Blvd. (Pasadena)
3801 Eastside (Inner Loop)
6001 Fannin St., Houston
BAYTOWN BARK PARK
MAXEY BARK AND RUN PARK
LAKE HOUSTON PARK
4334 Crosby Cedar Bayou Rd. (Baytown)
601 Maxey Rd. (East Houston)
22031 Baptist Encampment Rd., New Caney, Texas
CATTAIL DOG PARK
MILLIE BUSH BARK PARK
MARKET SQUARE PARK
9323 Cochrans Crossing Dr. (The Woodlands)
16756 Westheimer Pkwy. near Hwy. 6 (West Houston)
420 Travis St. Houston
DANNY JACKSON FAMILY DOG PARK
OFFICER LUCY DOG PARK
4700 Westpark Dr., just east of Loop 610 (Inner Loop)
4337 Lafayette just inside Loop 610 (Bellaire)
SAM HOUSTON PARK
DISCOVERY GREEN
TANGLEWOOD BARK PARK
1000 Bagby St. Houston
1500 McKinney St. (Downtown)
5801 Woodway Dr. (The Galleria area)
MEMORIAL PARK
6501 Memorial Dr. Houston
SYLVAN BEACH PARK
ERVAN CHEW PARK DOG PARK
T.C. JESTER PARK
576 Bayshore Dr., La Porte Texas
4502 Dunlavy (Inner Loop)
4201 T.C. Jester Blvd. (Northwest Houston)
TRANQUILITY PARK
400 Rusk St. Houston
Houston and the surrounding areas now boast more than 24 fenced, off-leash dog parks with a variety of amenities including swimming ponds, agility equipment, shaded seating and walking trails. Listed above are just a few. For more details on area dog parks and a map, visit the Houston Dog Park Association’s website, houstondogpark.org.
Lucy enjoys a doggie-dinner at Gratifi Kitchen and Bar with her owner, Elizabeth Huff (right), and friend Lindsey Peters. Gratifi was the first restaurant in Houston to have a Paws on Patio permit. Boneyard Dog Park and Drinkery keeps the community clean and fresh with its state-ofthe-art K9000 dog wash station—only $10 to all patrons. OPPORTUNITY HOUSTON | 37