Florida's Nature Coast Lifestyle

Fido Friendly Citrus County

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According to the American Pet Products Association, The United States was home to about 83.3 million dogs in 2019, versus the 73 million children at the time- that is approximately 10.3 million more dogs than children. With the majority of people considering their dog or cat as a member of the family. With pets now becoming more common than kids in many U.S. cities, the rise of pet friendly places/businesses is inevitable. But the question is, “What are my options?”.

Pet-Friendly Businesses

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Don’t leave Fido at home when you need to make a run to any of the following places in Citrus County:

Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Supply Co., Kane’s Ace Hardware, Rural King, Pet Supermarket, and Howard’s Flea Market.

This is just a glimpse at the list of places that allow you to bring your companion with you to shop. Please do your research or call ahead before bringing your pet into a business you are not confident that it is allowed to be.

Pet-Friendly Restaurants

Have a bite to eat with your best friend at any of these restaurants outdoor seating areas:

Norton’s, The Blue Gator Dunnellon, Stumpknockers, The Freezer, Crumps Landing, and The Old Mill Tavern.

These eateries have been confirmed as pet friendly via bringfido.com. Bringfido.com is a user-friendly site for pet owners to research where they can (and can’t) take their pets. They offer honest, animal-owner, reviews and an easy-to-use search engine. I recommend using this site to confirm if a business is pet-friendly before “em-barking” on your trip.

Citrus County Dog Parks

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Starting with Rockwood Park, located in Citrus Hills, FL. This park has 2 whole acres for your beloved canine to run and play as well as a dog wash area for an easy clean up before getting into your vehicle. This park also offers separate areas for large and small breed dogs to avoid any possible puppy injury. Please remember to utilize the clean-up stations, supplied by the park, to pick up after your dog when they have made a “mess”. This ensures that all humans and their companions are going to have a fun, mess-free day.

Bark Central, in Inverness, Fl offers a whopping 15 acres including multiple swimming areas for our water-loving pals. Similar to Rockwood Park, Bark Central also supplies a separate area for smaller breeds, dog rinsing stations and clean-up stations. For the health and safety of all dogs, this park requires proof of rabies and DHLPPC vaccines. Have your records ready if you want to bring your furry friend here.

The last park is not technically a “dog park” like the others, but is leashed-pet friendly and offers other amenities for humans. Crystal River Archeological State Park has many miles of hiking trails within its 61 acres, as well as picnic areas and geocaching. There is water surrounding the park not recommended for swimming due to the possibility of wildlife. This location is pet friendly as long as pets are kept on a 6’ leash. (which is standard everywhere, unless noted otherwise.) For any questions regarding the “dos and don’ts” of the parks, visit the link below.

Citrus County Rules and Regulations Refresher:

https://citrusbocc.com/news_detail_T12_R952.php

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