Where Does Seattle Rank In Study Of Best U.S. Cities For Dog Owners?

SEATTLE, WA —Seattle recently was ranked as the No. 9 city in the U.S. for dog owners in a study by Commercial Cafe, a real estate blog.

The study compared 100 American cities with more than 200,000 residents, evaluating each in a series of categories including:

• The number of dog parks per 100,000 residents
• The number of veterinary and pet care establishments per 100,000 residents
• Park amenities like number of parks, parks as a percentage of the city's total area and acres of designed parks
• Life quality index, which included median income, unemployment and median housing value
• Average apartment size
• Median number of rooms, per detached single-family house

"With how much (dogs) can brighten our day, it's natural that we want our dogs to be happy as can be — and the city you live in can play a big part in that: Being able to walk to a different dog park each week, having a trustworthy vet nearby or being able to afford a larger house for your pet's zoomies all depends on location," Commercial Cafe wrote in a description of the study.

With points awarded in each category, Seattle ended up scoring a 49.8, finishing just behind Atlanta Georgia (49.9) and ahead of Virginia Beach, Virginia (49.6) in a list of the 100 top cities.

Seattle ranked highest in life quality index (No. 6), the number of veterinary establishments per 100,000 (No. 7) and park amenities (tied No. 10).

Of course, all dogs and dog owners have different needs.

"Depending on your dog's personality and your own preferences, different places might seem more attractive," Commercial Cafe wrote. "You could be looking for a location with mild weather and plenty of outdoor opportunities, or a city where your dog has access to the best vets. In any case, what matters most is that we give our best friends the love and attention they deserve."

The top five cities for dog owners according to the study were: No. 1 Madison, Wisconsin (65.6), No. 2 Boise Idaho (54.7), No. 3 Anchorage, Alaska (54.2), No. 4 Arlington, Virginia (53.5) and No. 5 Portland, Oregon (52.6).