A Dog's Life

Enjoy the dog days of Dallas at these pet-friendly downtown spots

Mutts Canine Cantina is fun for both dogs and their owners.

Mutts Canine Cantina/Facebook

Dallasites love their dogs, and luckily the city is a pet-friendly wonderland. Whether you want to relax with your pooch on a patio or hit the trails for a four-legged workout, there are plenty of activities in downtown Dallas for dog owners and their furry friends.

Park it
Socialization is important, both for canines and humans. Main Street Garden Urban Dog Run allows your dog to scamper off-leash, as does My Best Friend's Park at Klyde Warren Park — which also has fountains to jump through. Deep Ellum Bark Park has plenty of room to roam and cool urban artwork to enjoy, while Meadows Foundation Dog Park is a charming, grassy spot enclosed by a white picket fence.

In a league of its own is Mutts Canine Cantina. At this Disneyland for dogs, you can purchase a day pass for the parks or grab a cold beverage and hang out in the 200-seat, beer garden-style patio. Hot dogs and "doggie dogs" are also available at the concession stand.

Patio life
Dot's Hop House welcomes dogs of all shapes and sizes on its large outdoor patio, which is crowned by a glittery chandelier. Sundays from 12-6 pm at Lee Harvey's are Dog Day Afternoons, where Fido can run free — well, as free as he can in the enclosed patio area.

You'll also find pet-friendly patios at La Ventana, throughout the Dallas Farmers Market, at City Tavern, the sports bar Frankie's, and at what some consider the best patio in town: Harwood Tavern.

Getting around downtown
Sometimes everyone's feet need a rest. An easy way to travel while still being green is the eco-friendly Efrogs shuttle. Rides are free for both you and your pup, but tips are appreciated. Another free mode of pet-friendly transport is the McKinney Avenue Trolley, a vintage streetcar that links downtown to Uptown.

Treat time
Let your pal know that their unconditional love and eternally wagging tails are recognized with a puppy cookie from The Upper Paw or a Dead Sea mud bath from Downtown Pawz. For extra pampering, book them a bath and haircut at the Pawliday Inn Pet Resort & Spa. If you're on a staycation or valeting your car at The Joule, make sure to grab a doggie snack from the treat jar in the dog-friendly lobby.

Dog parents need their own treats as well. Bring Fido along to The Shed at the Dallas Farmers Market when you're picking up fresh produce for the week ahead. Four Corners Brewing Co. lets you have a cold one with your dog (water for them), as does Deep Ellum Brewing Company, which often has live music. And if you're looking for a new furry friend, Community Beer Co. hosts regular adoption events with Dallas Pets Alive!, a local animal nonprofit.

Hit the trails
For such a cosmopolitan city, Dallas has many serene trails that are ideal for an evening stroll with your loyal pal. Trinity Skyline Trail explores the Trinity River, or you can walk the 2.5-mile urban Trinity Strand Trail in the Design District. Of course, there's always the famous Katy Trail in Uptown, plus you can watch the sun set on the Sante Fe Trestle Trail and find solace in the fact that, no matter what, your dog will love you forever.

Sobering statistic

Texas ranks No. 9 among deadliest states for New Year’s crashes

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At more than 314,000 miles, Texas boasts the largest system of public roads among the 50 states. It also holds the unfortunate distinction of being one of the deadliest states for New Year’s car accidents.

An analysis of 2014-2023 traffic data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows Texas is the ninth worst state for traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

During the 10-year period covered by the analysis, commissioned by AutoAccident.com, Texas tallied 280 traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day — the highest total of any state. The 280-person toll in Texas works out to 9.61 deaths per one million residents, a rate that’s 37 percent above the national average of 6.99 deaths per one million residents.

The analysis reveals that nearly three-fourths (64 percent) of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traffic deaths in Texas were drivers, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) were pedestrians, and 16 percent were passengers.

“New Year’s Eve is one of the most dangerous nights on American roads,” says Edward Smith, managing attorney at AutoAccident.com, a personal injury law firm.

“With impaired driving incidents spiking during holiday celebrations, every driver has a responsibility to make smart choices that protect themselves and others sharing the road,” Smith adds. “Even in states with strong safety records, one preventable death is too many.”

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), more than 2,000 drunk driving-related crashes happened during the 2024 holiday season. Last year, December ranked as the No. 1 month in Texas for wrecks caused by drunk drivers.

“The holidays are a wonderful time to be with family, and yet they can also be a painful reminder for those who have lost loved ones to preventable crashes,” says Marc Williams, executive director of TxDOT. “Let’s make a new holiday tradition to drive like a Texan: kind, courteous, and safe. That means always getting a sober ride.”

TxDOT offers these four tips for staying safe on the roads as the calendar switches from 2025 to 2026:

Designate a sober driver before the celebrations start.
Ask a sober relative or friend to pick you up if you’re too tipsy to drive.
Use public transit or rideshare services.
Stay off the roads until you’ve sobered up.

Several organizations in Dallas-Fort Worth are offering ways to get home safely around New Year’s if you’re too drunk to drive:

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has teamed up with Coors Light to provide free rides on New Year’s Eve. To get a free ride, enter the promo code COORSNYE25 in the GoPass app. The offer is available to the first 10,500 riders who enter the code in the GoPass app.
Trinity Metro will offer free Trinity Railway Express rides in Tarrant County from 6 pm-midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Various bars and entertainment venues in Dallas County are supplying QR codes for one free Lyft ride worth up to $35. The EpicCentral entertainment district in Grand Prairie is among the participants.
In collaboration with TxDOT and the Frisco Police Department, Uber is offering $30-per-ride vouchers for people in Frisco who aren’t sober enough to drive. Frisco ranks first on Allstate’s 2025 list of the Texas cities with the best drivers.
Fort Worth Limousines provides designated-driver services in Dallas-Fort Worth via limo, luxury sedan, SUV, and bus.
Pro-Tow Wrecker Service is offering free tows to tipsy motorists in Denton County who need a ride on New Year’s Eve.

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