Pet Adoption and Fostering are on the Rise

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 13, 2020): Pet adoption and fostering are on the rise as Americans spending more time at home seek companionship. Once it is time to hit the road again, there is no better place for new pet owners to celebrate their newfound friendship than the Sunshine State.

Over the past few months, animal shelters across the country have reported an increase in pet adoption and fostering. In fact, Google searches for “adopt a pet” surged more than 300% in April, according to findings from SEMrush, a data and trends analytics company. With endless breathing room to run and play, Florida offers a diverse range of “fur-babymoon” experiences waiting to be discovered.

Florida is home to more than 1000 pet-friendly hotels. From “Paw Happy Hour” at the Baker's Cay Resort in Key Largo, to the Very Important Pup package at The Alfond Inn in Winter Park, to a doggie “business center” at The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, hotels across the state offer special services that are pet-approved.

Additionally, if you are looking to stay in a pet-friendly house instead, Airbnb offers a wide array of lodging choices for animal lovers all throughout the state of Florida. In fact, below are just some of the SuperHosts that allow you to enjoy some much-needed R&R with your pets.

Beyond accommodations, there are numerous pet-friendly beaches along Florida’s 1,350 miles of coast. A few fur-baby favorites include: Davis Islands Dog Beach in Tampa, Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach, Fort Lauderdale Canine Beach, Fort De Soto Dog Beach Park in St. Pete, Crescent Beach in St. Augustine and Jupiter Beach in The Palm Beaches, which is officially an off-leash beach.

When it comes to green space, there are plenty of dog parks such as Naples Dog Park and Amelia Earhart Bark Park near Miami. Four-legged friends wanting more of an adventure can take their “pawrents” to hiking hotspots like Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, featuring natural trails and an off-leash park, and Blackwater River State Forest located Northeast of Pensacola.

Other pet-friendly parks and hiking areas include: Loch Haven Park, a 45-acre cultural park in Orlando featuring outdoor art creations, Sunset Park at Dick Cuda Trail in Punta Gorda, Alderman's Ford Conservation Park near Tampa, Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hope Sound and Lake Vista Dog Park in St. Pete.

Bring the pooch along on kayaking, stand-up paddling, and sailing treks throughout the state. Kayak down the Rainbow River in Marion County with Rainbow River Kayak and Get Up and Go Kayaking. Take-in Florida’s unique marine life in the clear waters of the Florida Keys on a SUP tour with Lazy Dog Adventures in Key West. Sail the seas of St. Augustine with a sailing voyage on the Schooner Freedom or St. Augustine Scenic Cruise.

Florida’s favorable weather allows for plenty of outdoor dining – and in many places pets are welcomed. From the burgeoning foodie scenes in Tampa and Orlando to Miami’s pedestrian Lincoln Road, there are numerous patios open to pet-friendly dining experiences. Choose from 100 pet-friendly options in Pensacola, grab dinner together at 2^nd Street Bistro in St. Lucie, which features a doggie menu, or enjoy a sweet treat at Tails at the Barkery in Cocoa Village.

For more information on the Sunshine State or to plan a 2020 vacation to Florida, visit www.VISITFLORIDA.com.

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About VISIT FLORIDA

As the Sunshine State’s No. 1 industry, tourism was responsible for welcoming 131.4 million visitors in 2019. Based on the latest economic impact study, Florida visitors contributed $91.3 billion to Florida's economy and supported 1.5 million Florida jobs in 2018. According to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, the official tourism marketing corporation for the State of Florida, $2.15 in tax revenue is generated. VISIT FLORIDA promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations and visitor services programs. As a public/private partnership, VISIT FLORIDA serves more than 13,000 tourism industry businesses, including major strategic alliance partnerships with Busch Gardens Tampa, Disney Destinations, The Hertz Corporation, Hilton, LEGOLAND Florida Resort, SeaWorld Parks & Resorts Orlando, Simon Shopping Destinations and Universal Orlando Resort.

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Media Contact:

Kayla Leska, Account Director
215.444.7199
kayla.leska@aboutdci.com