Is Buffalo A Good City For Dog Owners?

It’s easy to see why dogs are the most popular pet in the country. Dogs are intelligent, loyal, and boy– are they adorable. 

According to Forbes, as of 2024, over 65 million households in the United States own a dog, and we know there are tons of residents throughout Western New York that consider their pups part of the family.  

Considering dog ownership on the rise, many cities across the country, including Buffalo,  are stepping up their game to become sweet spots for our four-legged friends. From dog parks to dog-friendly restaurants, we’ve always thought that the City Of Good Neighbors (and “good bois”) was leading the pack when it comes to catering to canines owners…

But according to a new study, we may be wrong.

New List Of Top Dog-Friendly Cities In The U.S.

The lawn care company LawnStarter recently released their rankings of the top cities for dog owners in the United States, using metrics like dog-friendly housing (ex: rentals allowing dogs, spacious homes, and large backyards) , dog-friendly businesses, community, care, and affordability. 

The top cities on their list were Scottsdale, Arizona, Asheville, North Carolina, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. But where did Buffalo land on their list?

Website Says Buffalo, New York One Of The Worst For Dog Owners

According to LawnStarter’s list, Buffalo ranks towards the bottom of the most dog-friendly cities in the country, coming in at #300 out of 500. Yikes. 

The low score mostly comes from Buffalo’s housing rank, which the site put at 407 out of 500. 

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Weird, considering that merely four years ago, a different website put Buffalo in the top 10 cities in the entire country for dog owners, calling it an “Upstate New York gem.”

Dog lovers of Western New York– what do you think? Do you believe LawnCare’s ranking of Buffalo is right?