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is st. louis actually pet-friendly? my dog’s take on the city

@Owen Steele2/7/2026blog
is st. louis actually pet-friendly? my dog’s take on the city

so i moved to st. louis with my dog, and lemme tell ya, it’s a mixed bag. first off, the weather here? wild. one day it’s 70 and sunny, next it’s 40 and raining sideways. my dog’s fur looks like a wet mop half the time. but the parks? oh man, they’re legit. forest park is huge-like, bigger than central park in nyc huge. we spent an entire afternoon there and still didn’t see it all. my dog was basically vibrating with joy.

but here’s the thing-vets? kinda hit or miss. i asked around, and everyone’s got a different opinion. one friend swore by this place called 'south county animal hospital,' said they’re the best. another friend was like, 'nah, they’re overpriced and slow.' so i went with my gut and tried 'rover’s vet clinic' on delmar. they were okay, but the wait time? brutal. like, bring a book and a snack kind of wait.

"rover’s vet clinic? yeah, they’re fine if you don’t mind sitting in the waiting room for an hour." - overheard at a coffee shop

now, let’s talk money. rent here is surprisingly cheap compared to other cities. i’m paying like $900 for a two-bedroom, and my dog has enough room to zoom around. but here’s the kicker-safety. some neighborhoods are great, others? not so much. i asked a local, and they said, 'stick to clayton or central west end if you want to feel safe.' so that’s what i did.

"don’t go wandering around south city at night with your dog. just don’t." - drunk advice from a bartender

and if you’re wondering about other cities nearby, chicago’s just a 5-hour drive, and nashville’s about 4 hours. perfect for weekend trips with your pup.

"st. louis is great for dogs, but the humidity in summer? brutal. my dog refuses to walk after 10 am." - overheard at a dog park

overall, st. louis is pet-friendly if you know where to go. just do your research, and maybe avoid the sketchy areas. oh, and bring a raincoat for your dog. trust me on that one.


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About the author: Owen Steele

Believer in lifelong learning (and unlearning).

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