The Revitalist

Apparently Seattle has more dogs than children (!), and they are now facing an issue about where to put their day care facilities. Does a doggie day care qualify as a kennel or a pet shop as far as the zoning code is concerned? The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that the Seattle City Council will be considering a new classification for dog day care facilities in order to allow them in neighborhood commercial zones. The day cares want to be located in shopping centers with other commercial facilities, like car repair shops and grocery stores, so that they are easily accessible to their clients, as opposed to be religated to industrial areas like kennels.

As an active dog owner, I am aware of the controversy that our furry friends can stir up, just by being there. Clearly Seattle is taking a pro-active, pro-dog approach—good for them. The Pet Industry is obviously growing, and communities should recognize that this could be a significant part of the local economy. With more dogs than kids, Seattle has to make the economic choice to allow these dog-related businesses into their neighborhoods. Let's hope that this is part of a trend where municipalities realize that these animals aren't a public health issue to be managed but an economic growth and community building opportunity.