Christine Wood of Harrisburg and her schnoodle Allie, age 10, walk along 3rd Street in Harrisburg.
On a hot Wednesday afternoon, Harrisburg—from N. 3rd Street to Front Street and across the Walnut Street Bridge—was full of people and dogs.
Owning a dog in a densely populated area where backyards are scarce presents some challenges, but owners are committed to making accommodations for their four-legged friends.
Christine Wood moved to Harrisburg last July and said that walking her 10-year-old schnoodle, Allie, has been a great way to meet her neighbors. Midtown is welcoming, Wood said, but the riverfront is her and Allie’s favorite place.
“On Saturdays and Sundays, it’s ‘doggiepalooza,’” Pam Auer said of the riverfront.
Auer finds the city a great place to train her 1-year-old cocker spaniel, Shelby. Interacting with other dogs allows Shelby to work on her manners, Auer said.
Auer and Shelby are best friends, so Auer gets frustrated when store employees will not allow the tiny pooch to sit on her mobility scooter while she shops. She credits The Meadow, an artisan shop on 3rd Street, for allowing Shelby to join her.
“The food stores are tough,” Auer said. “I want to support the smaller businesses, but if I am leaving her at home, I might as well get in the car and go to the grocery store.”
Auer also wishes the city would install a dog park on City Island so dog owners from the east and west shores of the Susquehanna River can meet in the middle.
Bree Mullen of Harrisburg and Ally Rosa of Camp Hill would welcome that dog park. The friends often meet on City Island to chat while their dogs interact. Mullen does not find the city’s mainland dog friendly.
“There is no grass. Where are they supposed to use the bathroom?” she asked. “The sidewalks are cracked, and you cannot walk on half of them.”
The city noticeably lacks dog waste stations that include plastic bags for disposal, said several dog-walkers. Most responsible dog owners bring their own bags on a walk, but almost every one can relate to realizing the bag holder is empty while their dog is squatting.
On City Island, baseball fans can enjoy a game with their four-legged friends at FNB Field this summer during the Harrisburg Senators’ “Wet Nose Wednesday.” Owners must sign a waiver stating that their dog has received all required vaccinations and that they are willing to leave if trouble arises.
Several of the city’s restaurants allow dogs on their patios. Brian Riordan, who moved back to the city about six months ago, finds it easy to walk his Tapper Girl through his hometown. Riordan said that one usually can find the pair on the riverfront in the mornings and then in Midtown on afternoons.
“We also eat here eight to 10 times a week,” he said while sipping a martini at Cork & Fork on State Street.
Riordan believes the city is dog-friendly, but he thinks some people could benefit from a dog etiquette class. He lived in New York City for 26 years and people there, he said, socialize their dogs much more than do Harrisburg residents. Not socializing a dog at a young age leads to unfriendly interactions, such as when a dog loudly barked at and attempted to charge at Tapper Girl.
A human takes the lead in guiding their dog’s actions, so proper training is essential. As with any topic, the opinions on what’s best vary but one thing is clear—the dogs don’t seem to have a care in the world.
Dog owners looking for more information on where their four-legged friends are welcome, whether in Harrisburg or other cities, can visit www.bringfido.com.
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