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2026 Pawprint Index Ranks Tampa First, New York City 39th Among 49 U.S. Cities
MetLife Pet Insurance study measures walkability, veterinary access, dog parks and pet-friendly rentals. Tampa led the list while New York City placed near the bottom.
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U.S. cities for pet-friendliness. Atlanta placed second and Austin third. New York City finished 39th. The study evaluated walkability, dog parks, veterinary access, pet-friendly businesses and rentals that allow pets.
Tampa led due to abundant veterinarians, pet-friendly businesses and rentals that welcome animals. New York City tied with San Francisco for the highest walkability score in the study. 2 highly-rated veterinary clinics per 100,000 residents, matching El Paso.
Chicago ranked 34th, Los Angeles 37th and Houston 38th. Fresno, California finished 49th. Memphis placed 48th and El Paso ranked 47th. New York Post reported that bigger cities are not necessarily better for pets, noting that infrastructure such as veterinary clinics and pet-friendly housing shapes daily life for animals and owners.
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