Cape Cod's pet-friendly living

Late last summer Dog Fancy magazine named Provincetown the most dog-friendly town in the U.S. and it came as no surprise to us . . . Cape Cod residents are crazy about their pets and so are many of our visitors.  There is a growing number of people vacationing on the Cape who want to bring all of their family along, including their furry four-legged family members (and sometimes even their feathery two-winged friends).  Just check out the allcapecod.com pet-friendly lodging page to see how many great places welcome your fur babies!

allcapecod.com owner's dog Darwin!

 Provincetown began to take extra steps to make things more welcoming for pets - especially our canine friends, a few years ago.  Many restaurants, stores and even banks have opened their doors to allow dogs - partially thanks to a change in how the local government view our beloved furry friends.  One of the biggest changes was the creation of the no-leash dog part in the heart of P-town: Pilgrim Bark Park with doggie drink fountains and pet clean-up stations.  Several stores have water bowls out on the side-walks for your friend to refresh him/herself as you stroll along and there are several restaurants that welcome your well-behaved leashed pup.  Check out the Pilgrim Bark Park website for more pet friendly information for Provincetown.

While Provincetown has rolled out the red carpet for our canine friends, they are not the only town on Cape Cod to find places to stay with your pets.  From camping in Brewster to Bed and Breakfasts in Barnstable and cottages in Bourne, you can find many wonderful places to stay with your pets.  From September through May, most of the Cape beaches allow you to walk your dogs on the beach.  Year-round, your leashed dogs are welcome at Nickerson State Park, the Cape Cod Rail Trail, most areas of the Cape Cod National Seashore, and the Cape Cod Canal walking area.  Want to go visit Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard?  The Hy-Line Cruises and Steamship Authority both welcome your pets on board.

Cape Cod's love of animals goes beyond our hospitality to pets - it includes animal welfare organizations.  Cape Cod is the home to the International Headquarters for IFAW in Yarmouth Port and its related group The Cape Cod Stranding Network.   In addition there are several animal shelters and rescue groups on the Cape.

So when your planning your next family trip - for a week or a weekend, come to Cape Cod and bring your whole family - even your pets!