In January 2017 the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Mars Petcare launched a nationwide city survey to determine what resources and support a city would need to make their community more pet-friendly. In Pulaski County, the mayors of North Little Rock and Little Rock both participated. The survey found that cities across the country, from outer-ring suburbs to urban cores, need more resources than they can currently provide to create optimal pet-friendly environments. This includes food, facility upgrades and training for shelters; improved outdoor public amenities for dogs and other pets; support for local pet adoption, micro chipping, and spay/neuter programs; and education for business owners on the benefits of establishing pet-friendly policies and amenities in retail, restaurant, and other business settings.
A summary of the findings can be found here. We applaud our local mayors who participated with the intention of making their cities more pet friendly!