140 Bury St Edmunds’ shops, eateries and attractions have now signed up to a Dog Friendly campaign – making the town one of the most pet friendly in the country.
The scheme, which is celebrating its fifth birthday, sees businesses displays a window sticker and branded dog bowl for use by their four-legged visitors.
The anniversary has been marked with a revamped Dog Friendly window sticker for businesses and the addition of blue branded dog bowls, supported with a £500 donation from the locality budget of former Bury St Edmunds Town Councillor Richard Rout, £500 from Our Bury St Edmunds BID and £500 from Camp Tails Doggy Daycare.
A list of all the 140 dog friendly businesses who have signed up to the scheme can be found at www.dogfriendlybse.co.uk.
Owner of Camp Tails Doggy Daycare Jon Kay, who championed the scheme from the beginning, has just recently opened Bury St Edmunds first Hotel for Dogs – a boutique luxury offering to care for dogs – at his premises in Eastern Way.
Jon Kay said: “Bury St Edmunds is now one of the most dog friendly towns in the country. It helps assist dogs gain valuable socialisation and desensitisation skills whilst at the same time supports and promotes local businesses. There are now so many places that you can take well-behaved dogs when you visit.”
Dog Friendly Bury St Edmunds (BSE) was formed with a partnership between Bury St Edmunds Town Council, Camp Tails Doggy Daycare, Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID) and the tourism brand Bury St Edmunds and Beyond five years ago.
Mike Kirkham, Business Support Manager for Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: “Bury St Edmunds is a great place to shop, eat and relax. We want as many people as possible to enjoy their visit to our historic town, so we are really pleased that so many businesses invite customers to do this alongside their canine companions.”