The search is on to find the UK’s most dog-friendly places, as the Kennel Club helps launch the DogFriendly Awards 2017. This year the annual awards are organised by DogFriendly, the UK’s leading online directory of dog friendly places, and held in association with the Kennel Club as part of their wider Be Dog Friendly campaign.
With around 8.5 million dogs in the UK, and around one in four households owning a dog, the great British public are always on the lookout for places where their four-legged family members are also welcome. The DogFriendly Awards aim to recognise businesses and places to visit that make our canine companions feel welcome.
Members of the public can nominate and vote for their favourite businesses and places online, and the winners will be announced during a prize-giving ceremony at Eukanuba Discover Dogs at ExCeL London on 21st October. The 2017 award categories supported by the Kennel Club will include; Places to Stay, Pub/Bar, Day Out, Café/Restaurant, Beach, Town/City, Large Organisation and Employer.
To recommend and vote for your favourite dog friendly places or businesses, please go to www.dogfriendlyawards.com
Research carried out by the Kennel Club and other organisations has proven that the vast majority of businesses benefit from being dog friendly. One study found that a staggering 96% of people surveyed noticed an improved atmosphere in a place once dogs were allowed on to the premises, whilst another research project found that four out of every five companies believed that business had improved once they had expanded their customer base to include four legged clientele.
The Kennel Club’s long-running Be Dog Friendly campaign aims to break down barriers for man’s best friend by encouraging more businesses and public spaces to welcome dogs, and includes the annual Be Dog Friendly Week (starting Monday 24th July) where business owners are encouraged to learn more about the positive benefits of being dog friendly and to consider trialling a dog friendly policy, and support for the DogFriendly Awards.