Birmingham named 6th most pet-friendly city in America

Pet-owners in Birmingham, rejoice! In a recent study, WalletHub compared the pet-friendliness of the 100 largest U.S. cities across 23 key metrics. Data shows that the Magic City ranks 6th overall, making it one of the best cities in the country to own a pet in 2023.

Keep reading to learn more about why Birmingham is one of the country’s top 10 pet-friendly cities.

Birmingham’s numbers

Nearly 90.5 million households in the U.S. have pets, but where can your pet enjoy the best quality of life without breaking the bank? Personal finance website WalletHub crunched the numbers, comparing everything from minimum pet-care provider rate per visit to pet businesses per capita to walkability.

Here’s how Birmingham compares:

• 4th in pet businesses per capita
• 6th in veterinarians per capita
• 6th in dog insurance per capita
• 17th in vet care costs
• 21st in dog-friendly restaurants
• 25th in animal shelters per capita

Support pet businesses in the Magic City

Not long ago, pet owners only had access to a handful of pet supply businesses– today, the market is catching up to accommodate all kinds of pet care needs.

As the study determined, Birmingham ranks 4th in pet businesses per capita. Check out these Birmingham businesses for all your furry friends’ needs such as boarding, care, entertainment and more.

• Good Dog Park & Bar
• Hollywood Feed
• Alabama Spay/Neuter
• The Barkery at CityWalk
• Hand in Paw
• Dogtopia
• Birmingham Animal Hospital
• Humphrey’s Dog Resort

Learn more about Birmingham’s favorite local pet businesses– 11 reasons Birmingham’s gone to the dogs—from pet care to day cares + dog bars

How other cities ranked

So, what are the best and worst cities to have pets in the U.S.?

Most pet-friendly cities	Least pet-friendly cities
1. Scottsdale, AZ	95. New York, NY
2. Tampa, FL	96. Laredo, TX
3. St. Petersburg, FL	97. Durham, NC
4. Las Vegas, NV	98. Santa Ana, CA
5. Colorado Springs, CO	99. Dallas, TX
6. Birmingham, AL	100. Baltimore, MD

Check out the full study

Want to check out more stories about pet care in the Magic City? We’ve got you covered.

• Dog-friendly spots in Birmingham to cool down during 100-degree weather
• Birmingham named best city in Alabama to visit with your dog
• Alabama ranked 5th best place for pets in the U.S.
• 5 ways to keep your pet safe as temperatures climb in Birmingham

What’s your favorite local pet business in Birmingham? Tag us @bhamnow on Facebook + Instagram.