May 4th, 2016 12:42 PM by Nelson Aybar
The StreetEasy.com ad on the subways tell a story that we all know by now: if you want to live in New York City with your best friend, Brooklyn is the place to be. And not just any Brooklyn neighborhood will do -- Park Slope is known for welcoming four legged buddies and having a variety of accommodations from parks to bars that are built for your best friend to enjoy with you.
StreetEasy ads lure dog lovers to Park Slope, where amenities abound.
I’ve had my Boston Terrier, Hunter, for the last 6 years and seeing him wag and jump around when I walk in the door always makes my day. I love finding new places in Brooklyn that are pet-friendly so I can bring him with me. Whether it’s to the grocery store, a bar for drinks with friends or the park to visit Hunter’s buddies, Park Slope is one of the most pet-friendly neighborhoods we’ve found.
Hunter, at rest.
Prospect Park, the sprawling and beautiful backyard for Park Slope, offers off-leash hours for dogs daily, from 9pm - 1am and 5am - 9am. Settled in the midst of Prospect Park are several lakes where dogs from the neighborhood can go for a swim.
FIDO, the Fellowship for the Interest of Dogs and their Owners, has community events in Prospect Park for dog owners. On May 6th, they’ll have free coffee for the owners and free biscuits for the pups through their “Coffee Bark”, which takes place the first Saturday of each month.
TimeOut New York has assembled a great list of dog friendly bars, while BrooklynForPets.com has put together lists of all of the Restaurants & Bars, Delis & Groceries or Shops in Park Slope that allow your pup to come in with you. Yelp and BringFido are additional resources to find pet-friendly establishments in the neighborhood.
Many bars in Park Slope are pup-friendly, though all they get is water to drink.
Of course, the hardest part with any pet is finding a home that will allow them. I always keep an Apartment List of pet-friendly homes available for my clients. Additionally, StreetEasy.com’s advanced search feature allows prospective tenants to search for a home with a pet-friendly filter.
However, since Brooklyn abounds with those gorgeous brownstones which are usually owned by local landlords, don’t be discouraged if your dream apartment doesn’t specify that it’s pet friendly. Instead, reach out to the listing agent to see if the landlord would consider your well-behaved pup. You might be delightfully surprised to find that the answer is yes.
Apartment living with a dog can be a breeze in a pet-friendly neighborhood like Park Slope.
Living in Park Slope also means access to a host of different dog caretaking services. From walking to grooming or training, Park Slope takes its canine population seriously. Brownstone Dog Walkers will take a pup out for a walk and also offers boarding services. Jason the Dog Walker & Co offers GPS tracking as your dog is walked so you can see exactly where they are going on a walk so you can go on a different route with Fido that night. Brooklyn Bark offers walking services, along with training and “baby watch” to keep an eye on a pup when the newest member of the family is coming home.
What is the best part about having a dog in Park Slope? While access to great parks, pet-friendly restaurants and shops are wonderful, Hunter’s favorite thing is meeting all his dog buddies on the street as we walk through the neighborhood. And their owners? They are pretty great, too.