A Dog's Eye View of Spartanburg
Man's best friend is an increasingly popular downtown date, but before you bring your best furry bud out for a night on the town, make sure you check this list of "best pup practices."If they poop, you scoop! Downtown dogs must remain on their leashes at all times, and owners are responsible for cleaning up after any messes that may occur. Doggy stations can be found at the Spring St greenspace across from the Love Where You Live mural. (Where else would you like to see waste stations? Send a doggy station request here.)While many stores and restaurants cannot allow pets inside (aside from registered service animals) due to food safety regulations, there are a number of downtown places that are still pet-friendly! The top two crowd-favorite locations are Paisley Paw, a pet boutique and DIY dog wash, and Fr8yard, Spartanburg's very own outdoor biergarten, restaurant, and entertainment venue. In addition, many restaurants and coffee shops offer shaded outdoor seating options and water bowls, treats, and whipped cream "puppaccinos" to accommodate pet-owners. Here's an extensive list of dog-friendly restaurants, boutiques, parks, and more.As the City's Special Events team likes to say, "Wagging tails and crowded spaces don't mix." The majority of Spartanburg's street festivals are not pet-friendly, due to crowded, noisy environments that stress many pets. In 2019, the annual Spring Fling festival introduced their first dog-friendly Sunday (the slowest foot traffic day for the festival,) to allow pet-owners to shop from featured pet vendors and enjoy the festival music. In addition, weekly programming events such as Music on Main, Jazz on the Square, and Live on the Square are now pet-friendly as well. Remember, dog's must remain leashed and well-behaved; if they don't like loud music, they might not like attending an outdoor music event with you.If you're looking for more of an outdoor adventure for Fido, check out the excellent array of hiking trails at Croft State Park, Glendale Shoals' water feature and trail, and the Mary Black Rail Trail.Connected to the urban Rail Trail, find the Rail Tail Dog Park (827 Union St)-- a large enclosed park with shaded benches, minor agility training equipment, and pools [for your dogs] to splash about in. (Find photos here.) The Rail Tail Dog Park is open Sunrise to Sunset seven days a week, with just a few brief rules. Owners are asked to remain attentive, scooping poop with the provided bags, and separating their dog if it cannot "play nice." Puppies under six weeks are not allowed in the park for both the dog's health and safety, and children should be monitored.If you're exploring near the SC/ NC state border, make a puppy pit stop in Landrum, SC; their community dog park at 1522 E Rutherford St (behind Bodega Noir and Stone Soup Restaurant) is popular among small dog owners for it's size-separate play areas. There is no running water on site, so make sure to bring a water bottle and bowl for thirsty pups! This South Carolina heat is no joke.Additional dog parks include the "Bark Park" at Park of Lyman, behind the Lyman Event Center at Pacific Place and next to the playground (59 Groce Rd,) and the Tyger Run Dog Park at Tyger River Park (179 Dillard Rd, Reidville,) currently under construction. Tyger Run will feature separate areas for large and small dogs, with plans to open by spring 2022.And last, but not least, we want to show your pets some love on the 'gram! Head on over to Instagram, and tag @intheburg864 and #dogsofspartanburg. Happy Tails, erm... Trails!