Most Pet Friendly Places in Los Angeles
- Published on:
- By: Jessica Wright
The only businesses pet owners could enter with their pets not long ago were pet supply stores like Petco and PetSmart. The good news is that the market for pet-friendly businesses and destinations you can enjoy WITH your pet is growing. Companies are making efforts to meet the consumer demand for pet-friendly access. Our pets are family to us, and many individuals like me desire to have them with us whenever possible. After all, animal companionship is an excellent way to relieve stress; why wouldn’t we want our pets around? Thankfully there are many pet friendly places in Los Angeles.
Public Access Rights: Where Can My Pet Go?
Different rules apply to pets, Emotional Support Animals, and Service Animals. New laws regarding service animals were enacted in California in 2022, so this is important. Here is a simple breakdown of the public access rights of each.
Pets
Pets do not have general public access rights. Your pet can go into any business that allows pets. Some exceptions may include companies that serve food and beverages or if their presence would interfere with safety standards. Granting access to pets is up to each individual business owner.
Also, surprisingly pets are not allowed at all outdoor places. They are prohibited at some places like beaches, parks, or hiking trails. It’s always best to research ahead of time to determine if your pet is allowed.
Emotional Support Animals vs. Psychiatric Service Animals
Many people with disabilities use an Assistance Animal to fully participate in everyday life. Before anything else, it’s essential to understand the role of these animals.
An Emotional Support Animal is a type of animal that helps manage mental health disability symptoms by providing comfort to its owner. Emotional Support Animals offer attention, affection, and companionship, which may relieve common manifestations of mental health struggles (such as anxiety and depression). Under federal regulations, ESAs mitigate symptoms by being present and are not required to carry out any specific tasks for their owners. Emotional
Support Animals are an excellent, non-medication way to combat challenging mental health conditions. A more comprehensive look at what an ESA is can be found here.
Get Your ESA Today
ATTENTION
Due to the new Department of Transportation (DOT) policy, Emotional Support Animals are NO longer allowed to fly in airplane cabins for free. However, Psychiatric Service Dogs are eligible.
Under federal law, a Psychiatric Service Animal or PSA is defined as an animal that assists its owner with a mental health disorder. A PSA is proficient in recognizing and responding to its owner’s need for assistance. It must be trained to perform a distinct task related to its handler’s disability that alleviates one or more mental health symptoms or effects. For examples of tasks that a PSA might perform, read here.
Per ADA guidelines, businesses and non-profit organizations that provide goods or services to the public must make “reasonable modifications” in their policies, practices, or procedures to accommodate people with disabilities. The service animal rules fall under this general principle. Accordingly, businesses with a “no pets” policy must modify the policy to allow service animals into their facilities.
It is wrong to fake a Service Animal and can have legal consequences such as fines or jail time. Beyond any legal repercussions, doing so can legitimately put the general public’s safety, a disabled person, or their Service Animal at risk. Please, don’t ever fake a Service Animal just to sneak your pet or ESA into a place it shouldn’t be.
American Service Pets' Dog-Friendly Guide To LA
Los Angeles is pretty pet friendly for a big city! Whether you are coming from out of town, new to LA, or are looking for something new to do with your pets, we’ve rounded up all of the top resources and information on navigating the city of angels with your furry friends!
For pet parents curious about the perfect spot to hike, the coolest dog-friendly beaches to sunbathe, and the best restaurants and bars, we’ve got you covered.
LA's Best Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails, Beaches, and Parks
Los Angeles offers your furry family members the opportunity for plenty of outdoor adventures, including scenic hikes with sweeping views, beautiful parks, and iconic beaches. Los Angeles might be the country’s mecca for dog lovers because of its warm weather and open spaces.
Beaches
Dogs are prohibited at most beaches (boo!), but the weather in LA makes it possible nearly all year to enjoy a day at the beach. Leo Carrillo State Beach allows dogs if they remain leashed and stay in the least crowded areas. Rosie’s Dog Beach is a favorite among pet parents. It’s a gorgeous three-acre stretch of coastline that allows dogs to enjoy off-leash fun in the sand and is the perfect place to go after a ruff day. The L.A.Times calls it a ‘hipster hound haven” because of its popularity among dog lovers and proximity to Silver Lake Dog Park. There are a variety of dog-friendly coffee shops and restaurants nearby, making it a favorite locale for the hoomans too.
Dog Parks
A dog park is a great place to make new friends – both human and four-legged friends. The city offers many options when it comes to dog parks. Laura Canyon Dog Park is the oldest in the city and is known as the nation’s first dog park. Sepulveda Basin Dog Park is a large, 61⁄2-acre park and is an excellent place for your dog to romp around and get the zoomies out. Hermon Dog Park, Culver City Dog Park, and Lake Hollywood Park are other popular options.
Hiking Trails
When you’re in the mood for an adventure and need dog-friendly hiking trails, you can get the skinny on the ’12 best urban trails for dogs’ from the L.A. Times. This article has so much great advice on each location. If you want to hit the road, here is a list of pet-friendly stops along the California Coastal Trail. You will want to plan a day or weekend trip to make the most of a few stops and take in the panoramic views of the coast.
Dog-Friendly LA for Foodies
The weather in Southern California is perfect for eating outdoor much of the year. Many restaurants throughout LA offer outdoor, dog-friendly patios allowing patrons to bring their dogs along while they grab a meal or a beer. Over 480 pet-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles welcome dogs on their outdoor patios.
If you’re looking for the top dog-friendly hotspots in the city, LA Eater ranks the top 16 best dog-friendly restaurants. Your dog will be living it up at these locations as some also offer perks for your pups from puppy menus, water bowls, doggie bandanas, pet-friendly patios, and nearby parks or dog beaches.
Dog-Friendly Activities
Iconic Los Angeles
Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica Pier, There is no shortage of sites you can visit or dog-friendly activities you can do in and around Los Angeles.
Best View of the Hollywood Sign
The Mount Hollywood Trail is an easy, 3-mile dog-friendly hike in Griffith Park. Your dog must be on a leash for this hike which takes about 1.5 hours to complete. This section of the trail offers some of the best views of the Hollywood sign and the Los Angeles Basin. You can also make a stop at the Griffith Observatory grounds to take in the beautiful scenery, but need to plan another time to visit the inside of the observatory without Fido.
The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Dogs are welcome to visit the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. You can even see the paw prints of famous dog actors, such as Lassie, whose star is located on Hollywood Boulevard between Cahuenga and Ivar, and Rin Tin Tin, whose star is located on Vine Street.
Shopping, Museums, and More
From shopping, museums, massages, celebrity tours, and the city’s most famous Instagram spots, Bring Fido captures over 110 dog-friendly activities you can enjoy with your dog.
Smart businesses all around the country have started to cater to dog lovers. Los Angeles is known as the home of celebrities and movie stars, and iconic locations. It has also earned a name for being one of the most pet-friendly cities in the US. LA has an abundance of places for you to enjoy with your four-legged friends! 🐾
The benefits of an Emotional Support Animal certification and a Psychiatric Service Dog certification are drastically different. Fortunately for you, American Service Pets’ network of active board certified doctor or other licensed mental health providers can help you find the right path to certification. To find out whether you need an ESA or PSD letter, take our easy, three-step Pet Owner Survey!
More Great Resources
