ABOUT US & WHAT WE DO
SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF OUR LOCAL DOG COMMUNITY
Dog Friendly KW aims to create safe, accessible and inclusive dog-friendly communities, all while engaging and supporting local, small businesses and promoting responsible dog ownership through education.
Founded in 2020 by Justine Sparling and Mackenzie Drinkwater, Dog Friendly KW was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization in January 2023.
Our goal is to connect as many dog owners with the resources they need, and deserve, to become a quality community member.
MISSION, PURPOSE & VALUES
WHY WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU & YOUR POOCH TO OUR PACK
We are breaking down the barriers for you and your dog to get out and get in touch. Whether you’re a dog owner, trainer, business owner or volunteer, we want to welcome you into our community. - All breeds are welcome.
OUR MISSION & PURPOSE
Our Vision:
Dog Friendly KW aims to create dog-friendly communities across Canada. We aim to do this through responsible dog ownership, resources, events & education.
Our Mission:
We want to create connections between local dog owners & businesses to build a strong community of like-minded and educated dog owners to increase dog-friendly spaces, improve responsible dog ownership & give back to the local community.
OUR VALUES
Inclusivity
We create welcoming and supportive communities for humans & dogs.
Responsibility
We promote safe, responsible dog ownership and uphold integrity in everything we do.
Change Makers
We lead by example, inspiring and encouraging individuals and communities to think forward, explore possibilities & drive positive change.
Creativity
We are doing things differently with our doggos by our side! Our aim is to create, innovate and have fun educating and cultivating community in a fun new ways.
We are here to help support you & we appreciate your support.
The Dog Friendly KW team loves to explore new dog-friendly spots, support local businesses and encourage the growth of our local dog friendly community. We love working with local businesses of all types and sizes to help them grow alongside our dog friendly community.
Want to work with us?
We’d love to meet up for a coffee, craft beer, pooch walk or a Zoom call to chat further.
HOW WE DO IT
With our dogs by our sides.
All dogs are special and unique.
Through our events and education, Dog Friendly KW is here to welcome dog owners of all kinds by destigmatizing how you connect with your dog. We want you to feel less alone, isolated or excluded from fun dog-friendly events. Maybe you have a high-maintenance pooch, but our goal is to help cultivate a safe way for you to participate & join our inclusive community. We stand to serve all dog owners.
In order to serve the community as a non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity of our community, local businesses & sponsorship.
Here is how you can become part of the pack:
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Every quarter, Dog Friendly KW releases a new issue of the Dog Friendly KW Community Guide. The Dog Friendly KW Community Guide is a comprehensive digital guide that has been widely circulated in the community for free. The guide contains detailed information about dog-friendly and dog-related businesses in a specific geographic area. Businesses can choose to advertise in the Waterloo Region guide covering Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and surrounding areas or the Guelph-Wellington guide. Businesses who advertise in the guide, are promoting to a niche audience of thousands of local dog owners. The guide has been featured in the Waterloo Chronicle, The Record and on CTV News!
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Dog Friendly KW hosts many annual events and offers support or planning and coordination leadership of dog-friendly events in collaboration with other businesses and organizations. We have coordinated events in partnership with many businesses, and we have been awarded Platinum in Kitchener-Waterloo Community Votes three years in a row in the Event and Party Planning category.
Let us plan your next PAWty
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The Dog Friendly KW podcast airs weekly on Midtown Radio and is available on all platforms where you listen to your podcasts. We dive into interesting and/or controversial dog topics to offer new perspectives, support our local dog community and spread the joy of dogs. We offer flexible packages for podcast sponsorship to meet the needs of all businesses.
Listen to the podcast here.
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As dog owners ourselves, we believe in responsible dog ownership and in the well-being of all dogs. We love getting involved in community education initiatives that align with our values as a business.
Connect with us for more information!
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We have experience creating content related to dogs and dog-friendly experiences for businesses and organizations. We are skilled in writing blog posts and educational content on all things dogs.
Check out our content here.
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The following businesses are members of our Community Partnership program for 2024.
Together We're Bitter Brewing
The Humane Society of Kitchener-Waterloo & Stratford-Perth
Imperial Market & Eatery
Malt & Barley Public House
Scran & Dram Scottish Public House
OUR DOGS THINK WE’RE PRETTY COOL - FIND OUT WHY
Get to know more about us & why we love this community.
OUR HUMANS - DOG FRIENDLY KW FOUNDERS
Dog Friendly KW was created in 2020 by Justine Sparling and Mackenzie Drinkwater as a fun social media account for two friends and their dogs.
It quickly grew in popularity with local dog owners who were seeking more dog-friendly places to go and things to do in Waterloo Region.
In January 2023, Dog Friendly KW was incorporated as a non-profit organization. From its humble beginnings, Dog Friendly KW has now grown to include a board of directors and a team of many volunteers, reaching thousands of community members across Ontario through fun, educational and engaging content & events.
Land Acknowledgement
Dog Friendly KW is situated on the traditional territory of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee Peoples. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous peoples whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society. Kitchener Waterloo is located on the Haldimand Tract which runs 6 miles on either side of the Grand River throughout its length, land which was issued to the Six Nations of the Grand River under the Treaty of Haldimand (1784) for their role in the American Revolution. This land was acquired from the Mississaugas of the Credit as part of the Between the Lakes Treaty (1784). Of the 950,000 acres that the Haldimand Treaty Lands consisted of, less than 5% comprise Six Nations of the Grand River lands today.
Learn more from the Six Nations of the Grand River.