St. Augustine is a city that loves its pets. And it’s not hard to figure out why – pets make their way into people’s lives and instantly become family. So whether you’re wanting to bring your furry friend out on your Friday night dinner date or bring them to the park for a day of fun, we can help. If you’re in the market for a new pet or even just have a need to get them groomed without extra stress, we can help with that too. Here’s your ultimate guide to all things furry-friend related in St. Augustine.
PET RESCUES
Sometimes, even in St. Augustine, pets need to find a new home. These local resources lend a hand to those looking to surrender their pets or adopt a new friend for their family.
Ayla’s Acres
(650) 520-5201
www.aylasacres.org
K9s for Warriors
(904) 686-1956
www.k9sforwarriors.org
S.A.F.E. Pet Rescue
(904) 460-0556
www.safe-pet-rescue-fl.com
St. Augustine Harley Angels Dog Rescue
(904) 217-2288
www.sahadogrescue.org
St. Augustine Humane Society
(904) 829-2737
www.staughumane.org
St. Johns Pet Center
(904) 209-6190
www.co.st-johns.fl.us/animalcontrol/petcenter
Swamp Haven Rescue
(904) 599-3042
www.swamphaven.org
Wags & Whiskers
(904) 797-1913 (Dogs)
(904) 797-6039 (Cats)
www.wwpetrescue.org
FOSTER A PET
Local shelters do not always have the room nor the resources to house all the abandoned animals and the limited means leads to a painful number of death row dogs. Begun in January of 2015, Swamp Haven Rescue takes in these death row dogs and provides their veterinary care, takes them to a trainer, enters them in doggy daycare, and prepares them fully to be adopted by a loving family. The rescue is entirely foster based, meaning they do not have a central office or kennel in which to house their rescued pets. That’s where you can come in.
Swamp Haven is always looking for loving homes to provide temporary care for their Swampies. All the foster family needs to offer is love and care – Swamp Haven rescue provides for all food and veterinary service. Be a part of bringing a wonderful dog to their forever home.
For more information on how to become a foster family for a rescue or how to adopt, visit www.swamphavenrescue.com or email lindsey@swamphaven.org.
PET-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS
No more leaving man’s best friend at home! Take the pup along on your lunch and dinner dates at these St. Augustine favorites.
Barley Republic
48 Spanish Street
(904) 547-2023
Chianti Room
60 Charlotte Street
(904) 825-4100
Cousteau’s Waffle and Milkshake Bar
15 Hypolita Street
(904) 342-5627
Dan Murphy’s Irish Pub
4320 A1A South
(904) 295-8101
Kingfish Grill
252 Yacht Club Drive
(904) 824-2111
Mojo’s Tacos
551 Anastasia Boulevard
(904) 829-1665
Sunset Grille
421 A1A Beach Boulevard
(904) 471-5555
These are only a few of the spots to check out…explore 33 Dog-Friendly Restaurants all over St. Augustine!
MOBILE PET SERVICES
For busy families that are always on the go, these local pet care providers make it easy to keep up with your pets’ needs.
Mobile Grooming
Stress-free grooming has come knocking! Auggie Doggie Mobile Pet Grooming gives your pets an in-house pampering that will keep their tails wagging.
(904) 517-0471
www.facebook.com/Auggie-Doggie-Mobile-Pet-Grooming
Mobile Veterinarian
For your furry friends that have trouble moving or are just stressed by trips to the vet, the Southeast Veterinary Hospital or Vilano Mobile Vet will come straight to your home to ensure the ordeal is a little more relaxed.
(904) 823-1270
www.southeastveterinaryhospital.com
www.vilanomobilevet.com
Mobile Euthanasia
The doctors at Lap of Love are trained veterinarians offering in-home hospice and pet euthanasia care to make hard goodbyes a little more comfortable and a little more peaceful.
(904) 508-0323
www.lapoflove.com/Locations-Florida-Jacksonville
Mobile Yard Cleanup
Shayne Lewis of Doggy Piles Be Gone created an easy solution to an ever-dreaded task. Opt for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly services, and they’ll come remove all the pet waste from your home’s yard. The best perk? Your busy family doesn’t even have to be home when they visit.
(904)671-3535
www.doggypilesbegone.com
ST. JOHNS COUNTY DOG PARKS
In every corner of the county, there are parks with natural and paved trails so that you can enjoy the beauty of Florida’s rich and diverse habitats. And there are plenty of parks that encourage you to bring your furry friends along for the ride.
Treaty Park
1595 Wildwood Drive, St. Augustine
The nearly one-acre dog park features drinking fountains, fire hydrants, and plenty of open space to run around and catch a ball in.
Davis Park
210 Davis Park Road, Ponte Vedra Beach
Here you’ll have two dog parks to choose from, and one features a dog wash (for those extra playful and extra messy dogs).
Veterans Park
1332 Veterans Parkway, St. Johns
The three acres of doggy playground are separated into space for large and small dogs and have a drinking fountain and picnic shelter.
Deleon Shores Park
9 Dolphin Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach
This Ponte Vedra dog park features an expansive open space as well as a covered bench area for you to take a rest out of the sun.
Ron Parker Park
607 Old Beach Road, St. Augustine
If you need some respite from the harsh Florida sun, this park is well-shaded and offers plenty of fresh water for your dogs to cool off in.
Nocatee Community Park
707 Nocatee Center Way, Nocatee
If your pup likes to go for a swim this park – a quarter-mile path center around a large pond – will be the perfect place to play.
READ TO ROVER
Eliminating the stresses of criticism or judgment, the St. Johns County Public Library provides a safe (and cuddly!) environment for children learning to read. The Read to Rover program allows children to show up to the library on designated days and practice their reading skills in a quiet, no-pressure environment by reading to sweet certified therapy dogs. “Pets are very nonjudgmental,” says Educational Therapist Rebecca Barker Bridges, “and their calming presence distills stressful situations. For children who feel insecure about their capacity to do things like reading, therapy pets bolster their self-confidence, which reduces their anxiety.”
www.sjcpls.org
What would you like to know about life as a pet owner in St. Augustine? Let us know in the comments below!