By Alesha Capone
Melbourne has been named the fifteenth dog-friendliest city in the world, according to an international study.
Pet insurance company Coya conducted the study last month, by asking people across the globe to complete an online survey.
The survey asked dog owners about canine-friendly infrastructure such as parks, pet stores, veterinary practices and hotels in their cities, and also looked at the costs involved with looking after an animal, abandonment rates and the number of people fined for not picking up their dog’s poo in public.
San Francisco placed first in the study, achieving a score of 100 per cent.
Melbourne scored 87.10, while Sydney placed 34th with a score of 78.19.
Melbourne ranked second-highest for the amount and quality of its dog parks, behind New York.
Founder and chief executive of Coya, Andrew Shaw said, said that while dogs were usually happy if they were well-cared for by their owners, canines also enjoyed plentiful green spaces and other places they could socialise with puppy pals.
“We conducted this study to help inform dog lovers and owners alike about the dog-friendliness of their local cities, and how they may compare to others around the world,” Mr Shaw said.
“As dog lovers ourselves, we were surprised at the results and hope that it adds to the conversation about how to make cities happier places for our furry friends.”
Wyndham councillor Heather Marcus said the council has temporarily fenced-off some of its off-lead dog parks due to the pandemic, to help people maintain social distancing.
“There are still some open off-lead areas accessible to the community, that may be within your five-kilometre radius,” she said.
“Off-lead open spaces such as the ones in Hoppers Crossing and the open area of Presidents Park, to name a few, are still open to the public.”
