Long known as a hub for livestock, Denver has corraled several more amenities over the years. Outdoor sports, craft beer, legal weed, live music and a wave of tech jobs have attracted travelers and transplants alike. But those who stay in this city must acknowledge its four-legged rulers, whether you own one or not.
Around 50 percent of Denver's residents have a dog, with 68 percent reporting that they own at least one pet, according to a 2024 survey by the Colorado Polling Institute
Denver routinely makes lists that generate headlines like 2024's "Denver places second in new study of dog-friendly U.S. cities" and, earlier this year, "Denver named one of the most dog-obsessed cities in America." We all have friends and family members who send the "can I bring my dog?" text before coming over — if they even ask. There are co-working spaces, parades and entire food trucks dedicated to dogs in Denver, and that's not counting the hundreds of establishments that happily hand out cups of whipped cream and water bowls for our furry friends.
As we see more and more businesses and institutions catering to canines, it's hard not to occasionally wonder: Has Denver gone to the dogs?
Dogs are a gift to humanity; few dispute that.They provide loyal companionship, are incredibly cute and can even help anxious airport travelers and violent prisoners. Dogs are also walking garbage disposals, perpetual poop machines and mirrors of our own manners and disposition. If your neighbor is a rude, lazy prick with main character syndrome, chances are his dog has issues, too, adorable and fun as it may be. And if your neighbor's a violent prick, then you have real problems.
Most of the pups, mutts and pooches we come across are well-behaved, but it's easy to run into a not-so-good boy or girl with 160,000 in a city that's so dog-friendly. Getting a drink at an outdoor patio (and virtually every brewery) in Denver usually includes a four-legged accomplice lying nearby, largely by design. In fact, in 2014, Denver became the first municipality in Colorado to allow dogs on public patios where food is being served, as long as certain rules are met.
Pushback from dogless Denverites has been consistent and mounting, but is rarely strong enough to win out. Gripes on social media about dogs at bars and restaurants are common. Efforts to turn public open space into dog parks are typically met with opposition from those concerned about environmental damage from dog urine and feces, attacks and fights because of off-leash dogs, and interruptions to human recreation.
All of these issues — from eye-catching amounts of dog poop to crowded animal shelters to the dangers of off-leash dogs — are very real in Denver. But so is this city's love of dogs.
As living in Denver becomes more and more expensive, it stands to reason that we'll only see more pets and fewer kids. Data shows we already have more dogs than children, and the city is currently seeing a decline in Denver Public Schools enrollment while the pound experiences a record number of surrendered animals.
We may have already rolled over, but maybe an old city can learn new tricks.
Over the next five days, we'll be rolling out more stories about Denver's love affair with dogs.
What do you think about this city's pet population? Post a comment or share your thoughts at [email protected].
