Bury St Edmunds has been named the most dog friendly town in the UK.
The West Suffolk town took the crown at an awards ceremony in London this afternoon after previously taking the silver medal for the UK and being named the top dog for England.
The DogFriendly Awards recognise and reward dog friendly places and pet businesses that go the extra mile for the benefit of the nation’s 12.5 million dogs and their owners.
Bury has developed its own pooch friendly scheme to help visitors and residents identify where their four-legged friends are made welcome, with around 140 shops, restaurants, accommodations, attractions and more having signed up to the scheme to display a blue paw print sticker and a water bowl.
Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District, said: “It is fantastic that Bury has not only reached the finals for a second successive year, but has gone one better and is now the most dog friendly town in the UK.
“On behalf of all the businesses, thank you to everyone who voted for us.”
Many venues in the town go the extra mile to be welcoming to dogs and their families, such as offering items on their menus, free snacks for dogs and more.
Tour guides have also started offering dog friendly trips to visitors and St Edmundsbury Cathedral has published a dogs calendar for next year.
Jon Kay, of Camp Tails Doggy Daycare, helped to found the town’s dog friendly scheme.
He said: “I was honoured to represent Bury at the awards ceremony again and so proud to receive the award on behalf of local businesses and a passionate group behind the scenes going over and above to make our canine chums welcome.
“It was an amazing day although we had our fingers and paws crossed right up until the announcement.”
Winners of the DogFriendly Awards in each of the categories are chosen by public vote.
