Northwest Arkansas is going to the dogs.
Business owners and dog lovers alike say it enhances the overall quality of life for residents, and their pets, across the region.
Web watch
Several websites include lists of dog-friendly businesses in Northwest Arkansas such as www.dogfriendlyfaye…, www.bringfido.com and www.gopetfriendly.c….
"There's places all over Northwest Arkansas that people wouldn't think of as being dog-friendly, but they are absolutely," said Denise Holmes, a pet trainer based in Fayetteville.
Her blog, Travel Tails, chronicles her experiences traveling with Henri, her 11-year-old terrier mix. He's the "sole benefactor of my maternal instincts and sometimes my only drinking buddy," Holmes says on her website, www.traveltails.net.
The two have traveled throughout the Midwest and to Florida. Northwest Arkansas ranks high in dog-friendliness in comparison to their journeys, Holmes said. One of her and Henri's favorite places is Sassy's Patio in Fayetteville, which is within walking distance of their home.
Most restaurants with patios and microbreweries are dog-friendly as are many of the downtown retail shops in the region's largest cities. The main difference usually is dogs have to stay outside of food establishments, but are permitted in dog-friendly retail stores.
Owners of food service businesses who want to allow dogs for patio dining must obtain a variance from the Arkansas Department of Health, according to Katie White, spokeswoman for the department. Only service animals are allowed in food service facilities.
"All other [food service] facilities with dogs present that are not service animals are out of compliance," she said.
Business owners said they can't tell if being dog-friendly increases their bottom line, but said they benefit from the inviting atmosphere it creates.
Being a dog-friendly restaurant contributes to the downtown experience, said Luke Wetzel, chef at Oven & Tap on South Main Street in Bentonville.
"If you're hitting the market or just strolling around the beautiful square with your dog, and you want to go eat, I don't want to stop you from doing so," he said. "It was a very easy and natural decision to allow dogs on our patio."
The restaurant keeps dog water bowls outside and sometimes has treats furry four-legged patrons can indulge in with their owners' permission.
Label Boutique owner Sarah Barton keeps water bowls out for passing canines on West Central Avenue in Bentonville, but for those whose owners stop to shop, they're welcome inside, too, where they can also expect a treat. Store employees, including Barton, leave their tasks when a dog comes in as they all go to pet it. Employees are more than willing to entertain the dog while their owner browses in the store, Barton said.
"They're well taken care of," she said with an affectionate smile.
Allowing dogs to go where their people go improves the area's quality of life, Barton said.
"It's such a family oriented atmosphere around the square with all the events that happen, and I feel like people treat their dogs as part of their family," she said. "It's sad when you're having a big family outing, and you have to leave your dog at home."
People visit the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce office asking about which establishments are dog-friendly, said Karen Wagaman, vice president of downtown development.
The chamber partnered with Waco Title to sponsor dog water bowls for businesses to keep filled outside. A few downtown businesses, such as The Gathering, have dogs hanging out in their stores, Wagaman said. The Gathering sells Arkansas-made products such as pottery, jewelry, honey and dyed wool and yarn.
Woof & Wander is a canine outdoor outfitter store with two wash bays where owners can scrub their pups.
Dogs also help people connect to others as an ice breaker for conversations, several people said.
"They provide a sense of familiarity and community," Wagaman said.
The open floor space in Three Dog Bakery on West Central Avenue in Bentonville may look like lost retail space to business-minded people, but it serves as a natural gathering space for dogs and their people, said owner Paula Critselous. Saturdays are typically busy as people come in with their dogs after visiting the farmers market.
"It's so much fun to watch. They all congregate and talk to each other whether they know each other or not," she said. "They have that love of dog in common. It just warms my heart to see everyone meeting each other's dog and meeting each other. It's community."
Amy Burkert and her husband, Rod, launched GoPetFriendly.com in 2009 after discovering the difficulty of finding pet-friendly accommodations for their adopted German shepherd when they traveled. The site allows users to search by city for accommodations, businesses, restaurants and activities that welcome pets.
Amy Burkert said they've seen an increase both in the number of pet-friendly locations and in the families choosing to travel with their pets since the website's creation.
Burkert said it's difficult to generalize which parts of the country are most pet-friendly.
"For example, you may not think of Texas as being particularly pet-friendly, but Austin is one of the most welcoming cities for pets in the country," she said. "And Colorado is generally considered a pet-friendly state, but several cities, including Denver, have a ban on pit bulls, which we consider very unfriendly."
Blogger Holmes, who is single with no kids, and Henri search for places that don't just accommodate Henri, but welcome him like bringing out a water bowl while Holmes looks over a menu on a restaurant patio. Even better is when the establishment also has specialty items for dogs or a dog menu.
Northwest Arkansas has been a dog-friendly place for a while, but the creativity in which businesses show that has increased, said Stephanie Conway. Conway operates Dog Friendly Fayetteville, a website and Facebook page promoting fundraisers for Northwest Arkansas animal shelters, highlights adoptable pets and lists dog-friendly businesses.
Businesses see people wanting more options, more places, to bring their furry friends to, she said.
Conway struggled to find words explaining why being able to bring dogs along to normally people-centric places is a benefit.
"Life is just better when you have your little companion rolling with you," she said.
NW News on 09/25/2017