The City of Columbia is excited to announce that it has earned City Certification through the Better Cities For Pets™ program from Mars Petcare, showcasing its commitment to creating a pet-friendly community.
More people than ever view pets as members of the family, and with more than 90 million pet-owning households in the United States, Columbia is on the forefront of creating a vibrant community where pets are not only welcome, but thrive.
“We are very excited to be part of a certified City by Better Cities for Pets! We take great pride in knowing all our efforts are paying off, not only for our local shelter, but for our community as well. As an organization, Columbia Animal Services will continue to work on assisting our community to ensure our City’s pets and people are welcomed, cared for, and protected,” said Victoria Riles from Columbia Animal Services.
The Better Cities For Pets™ city certification launched in 2019 as an extension of the Better Cities For Pets™ program, which works with government, businesses and non-profits to help communities be pet-friendly. It was created in partnership with Civic Design Center, a leader in designing public spaces, and incorporates input from government and animal welfare experts. The program also offers a pet-friendly certification for airports.
“We established the Better Cities For Pets™ certification to celebrate cities that are creating positive and welcoming environments for people and their pets, and encourage more cities to recognize the benefits of our four-legged friends,” said Jam Stewart, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Mars Petcare. “We look forward to continuing to support cities as we work toward our purpose: A Better World For Pets.”
The full list of Better Cities For Pets™ certification recipients is available at BetterCitiesForPets.com/cities. To learn more, visit BetterCitiesForPets.com