Apparently it pays to be pet-friendly. Mayor Rick Kriseman announced that the city of St. Pete just won the 2019 Better Cities for Pets Award for large cities and a $30,000 grant to help the Sunshine City become even more pet friendly.

This is due in large part to the Burg’s PAWS initiative and the pet-friendly business program. Multiple Burg businesses have signed up and are now spotlighted on the pet-friendly map on the city’s website. The entire initiative helps further highlight the local spots that have embraced St. Pete’s huge pet population. It also serves as a catalyst for more business to go pet-friendly.

You can learn more about the initiative by clicking here.

https://www.facebook.com/Kriseman/photos/a.572392759438462/2603389366338781/?type=3&theater

The grant program, a joint partnership between Mars Petcare and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, began in 2018. It’s part of the Better Cities for Pets initiative, according to a report by ABC Action News.

Why start this? Because no one should have to choose between a place to live and their pet.

The program isn’t just about making businesses pet-friendly. They also want to work to reduce pet homelessness and to support organizations working to find pups and cats good homes.