Getting Around New York City with a Dog
The Challenges of Having a Dog in NYC No matter how much of a dog person you are, it can be difficult having a dog in New York City. But don’t worry—lots of people do it. In fact, it’s estimated that there are about 600,000 dogs living in the city. This number is about 40 percent lower than the national average, but many people still find ways to give their dogs happy, active lives.
Find Pet-Friendly Taxis Yellow cabs will likely see your dog standing next to you when you are hailing them down, so they can make the decision whether to transport you. Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors, so whether or not they will be okay with dogs is also entirely up to them. You can always call the driver before they arrive to make sure they’re okay with your dog riding along with you. Service and emotional support animals are always allowed.
If you don’t want to take an Uber or Lyft, there are some dog-friendly taxi companies like Canine Car Pet Taxi, Pet Chauffeur, and K9 Cars Inc. that exist specifically to transport dogs. Of course, your dog should be well-behaved and not make any messes in the vehicle. It’s generally a good idea to keep your dog in a carrier if they’re smaller, and drivers might be more likely to accept your ride request if your dog is in a carrier. Just make sure to tip!
Riding Subways, Busses, and Ferries Dogs and cats are allowed on New York City subways, but they must be in their carriers at all times. They also shouldn’t annoy other passengers. Service animals are allowed to ride outside of their carriers as long as they are on leashes. However, “service animal” does not mean emotional support animal. So if you have an emotional support animal, they must also be in their carrier.
The Staten Island Ferry allows dogs only if they are service animals or if they are small dogs in their carriers. Pets are allowed if they are caged and muzzled.
How to Prepare to Move to NYC with a Dog
Try to Keep Calm Dogs tend to be extremely in tune with their owners’ emotions, which means they are likely to get stressed out when they sense that you’re feeling tense. While there’s no way to avoid at least a little bit of stress around your move to New York City, you should do your best to appear calm and collected around your dog. This will help them feel more comfortable and less likely to become upset or scared.
Keep a Routine Dogs are extremely dependent on their daily routines. They get used to the time you come home from work, feed them dinner, and take them on walks. When you’re preparing to move, you’re often staying up late and waking up early to pack boxes, and parts of your dog’s routine can get forgotten.
For a smooth move, try to stick to your dog’s schedule as best as possible. Do your best to help your dog feel like everything is normal, and they will be much more likely to feel comfortable when moving day comes.
Prepare for Travel When you’re packing your bag or car for your move, you always include items that will make the trip more comfortable, like your favorite music, tasty snacks, and comfortable clothing. Make sure to do the same thing for your dog. Whether you’re flying or driving to your new destination, make sure to have the following items on hand:
Schedule a Vet Appointment Visit your veterinarian to ensure your dog is up to date on their vaccinations. If your dog isn’t already microchipped, you might want to look into that as it can be helpful to have while traveling. Your vet will be able to give you good advice for traveling with your dog, as they already know their personality well.
Your current vet might also be able to recommend a new vet for you to visit in New York City. If any emergencies arise during or after your move, it’s smart to have the number for your new vet on hand, or even the number for emergency veterinarian services. It will save you some serious worry in the event of an emergency.
Book with Pet-Friendly Hotels If you’re driving to your new destination, you might find yourself staying in hotels for a couple nights. It’s important to note that not all hotels allow pets. Hotels will usually list online whether they allow pets in their rooms, but it’s always a good idea to call before you book to ensure you won’t encounter any issues when you arrive at the hotel.
When you get to the hotel room, inspect it to make sure there aren’t any hazards lying around, or anything your dog will be tempted to chew on.
Find an Apartment with a Good Pet Policy Apartment hunting is difficult in New York City—and finding a dog-friendly place is even more difficult. Be aware that you might have to pay a pet deposit to cover damages. In some cases, this can be as expensive as your rent. You might also have to pay an additional monthly fee on top of your rent payment. This varies from apartment to apartment, but is very common in cities.
You should also be aware of how easy it is to get in and out of the apartment when taking your dog on a walk—will there be elevators or stairs? What floor will you be living on? To make it easier for yourself and your dog, make sure you won’t need to travel too far if your dog needs to go to the bathroom.
Hire a Professional New York City Moving Company Something that can greatly cut down on the stress of moving for you and your dog is finding the right professional New York City moving company. The professional movers at White Glove Moving & Storage can help you and your favorite four-legged friend’s possessions get to New York City safely, ensuring you have a smooth transition to city living. Contact us today to see how we can help with your big move.
Where to Go With Your Dog
Beaches and Bathing Facilities: Dogs are not allowed to enter any bathing facilities, including New York City beaches. As a courtesy, dogs are allowed on the sand at all NYC beaches from October 2 to the Friday before Memorial Day. * Brighton Beach: Dogs, except service animals, are prohibited on beach and boardwalk from Memorial Day Weekend to October 1 * Cedar Grove Beach: Dogs, except service animals, are prohibited on beach from Memorial Day Weekend to October 1 * Coney Island: Dogs, except service animals, are prohibited on beach and boardwalk from Memorial Day Weekend to October 1 * Manhattan Beach: Dogs, except service animals, are prohibited on beach and promenade from Memorial Day Weekend to October 1 * Midland Beach: Dogs, except service animals, are prohibited from Memorial Day Weekend to October 1 * Manhattan Beach: Dogs, except service animals, are prohibited and promenade from Memorial Day Weekend to October 1 * Rockaway Beach: Leashed dogs are prohibited on the sand and boardwalk from Memorial Day Weekend to October 1 * South Beach: Dogs, except service animals, are prohibited on beach from Memorial Day Weekend to October 1 * Wolfes Pond Beach: Dogs, except service animals, are prohibited on beach from Memorial Day Weekend to October 1
Dog Runs: Dog runs are large, fenced-in areas for dogs to exercise unleashed during park hours.
Designated Off-Leash Areas: Some park areas allow dogs to be off leash from the time the park opens until 9:00 a.m. and from 9:00 p.m. until the park closes. The off-leash policy in certain parks may be subject to changes in consideration of resident or transient wildlife. Note: MacNeil Park Off-Leash Area is open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. only.
Keep your dog healthy and happy. Take your dog to a veterinarian for annual physical exams and inoculations against rabies and other diseases.
For information about spaying/neutering your pet, please contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at (212) 876-7700.
To report a lost or found dog, please contact Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) at lost and found wesbite.
To report animal cruelty, please call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). To report crimes in progress, please call 911.
For more information about adopting a dog in New York City, please visit Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) at nycacc.org.
Getting a Dog in NYC!
New York has gone to the dogs! Walk down any New York City street and you’re bound to see a plethora of four-legged New Yorkers any way you look. And while these furry locals have helped turn the city into a dog-friendly haven, that doesn’t mean your canine friends are exempt from NYC rules.
Yep, that’s right, there’s a whole set of laws strictly dedicated to four-legged city dwellers too. Help keep your dog’s paws on the right side of the law by following the rules. Here’s the low down on NYC dog laws.