Woof it up, Las Vegas: The city has been recognized as one of America's top communities for dogs.
Realtor.com listed Las Vegas at No. 3 in its list of top cities for dogs, based on the percentage of households owning dogs, number of dog parks, number of pet stores and number of dog-friendly restaurants and bars.
The site, referencing Nielsen data, reported that 62 percent of Las Vegas households owned dogs. It also cited an Amazon.com report listing Las Vegas as No. 7 in spending on pets.
"And owners aren't just shelling out online; when they go out of town, Luxe Pet Hotels offer a boarding service that purports to be 'tailored with luxury in mind,'" said a story about the rankings. "That means dog gym, indoor obstacle course, outdoor pool and cabana, king-size memory foam bed, and 42-inch TV in the 'celebrity suite.' Think of it as a 'Rain Man' suite for your schnauzer."
Charleston, S.C., ranked No. 1 on realtor.com's list, followed by Temecula, Calif., where a whopping 85 percent of households owned dogs. Rounding out the top five were Scottsdale, Ariz., at No. 4, and San Diego, Calif., at No. 5. Realtor.com offers tools, information and advice on buying, selling and renting homes.
Las Vegas is home to more than two dozen dog parks, and last year the Southern Nevada Health District began offering waivers to bars and restaurants to allow dogs on their patios. To obtain waivers, which provide an exemption from certain regulatory requirements, establishment operators must adopt modifications to prevent health hazards or nuisances. The waiver process was prompted by Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar’s entry into the Las Vegas market. The California-based eatery, which opened a location at Downtown Summerlin in April, features a lodge theme inspired by the founder’s memories of a “lazy dog” stretched out by a fireplace.