By: Jade Bastian
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”— Roger Caras
If you own a dog or have owned a dog, you know that these animals deserve the world and more. They provide a sense of love and security that is like no other.
Just like us, our pets also deserve some time to unwind and enjoy themselves in an environment that is both welcoming and friendly. In this article, you will find lists of dog-friendly parks, eateries, and beaches that are near Saint Leo.
Saint Leo University student Samiah Rutherford and enjoying her time with her dog Rico.
To start, here are 2 of the closest dog-friendly parks:
1) Dade City Dog Park
Rated at five stars on BringFido.com, this is an enclosed off-leash dog park that has a double-gated entry. There are picnic tables, racquetball courts, tennis courts, and a playground for kids.
Distance: 10-minute drive Directions: 37607 Meridian Ave, Dade City, FL, US, 33525
2) Meadowood Dog Park
This is another enclosed park with a separate small area for dogs. It has benches, shade trees, drinking bowls, a shower for dogs, and pickup/waste bags. You also have the fantastic opportunity to watch nearby skydivers as your pet plays!
Distance: 25-minute drive Directions: 39400 Alston Ave, Zephyrhills, FL, US, 33542
Next, there are three dog-friendly restaurants in Dade City that welcome dogs at their outside tables:
- Garden Café
- Doc’s Pub and Grille
- Kafe Kokopelli
If you feel like going further out, these are five dog-friendly restaurants in Wesley Chapel:
- Tijuana Flats
- Texas Roadhouse
- Grill Smith
- Cantina Laredo
- Bonefish Grill
Lastly, on the weekends, you can take your best pal out to enjoy some sun, sand, and sea. Here are a few dog-friendly beaches:
1) Davis Island Dog Beach
There are two enclosed areas where dogs can play. In the first park, dogs can roam around off-leash. The second area is the dry dog park. Both parks include water stations and bag dispensers for waste.
Distance: 49-minute drive Directions: 1002 Severn Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
2) Picnic Island Beach Dog Park
It is very laid back and has shady rest areas, grassy areas to play, waste bags, and a few other amenities available. The only downside is that there are sharp rocks along the beach.
Distance: 1 hr. drive Directions: Picnic Island Beach Dog Park, 7409 Picnic Island Blvd, Tampa, FL 33616
3) Fort De Soto Park, Dog Beach, and Paw Playground
This park has large fenced-in areas for large and small dogs. There are dog showers, water fountains, and plenty of other amenities for pets and owners. According to Bringfido.com, dogs are allowed anywhere in the park on a six-foot leash, except on any beach. However, in the Paw Playground area, dogs are allowed on the beach and without a leash on that area of the beach. They can also run freely inside the fenced areas.
Distance: 1 hr. 28-minute drive Directions: 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, St. Petersburg, FL 33715
