Dog Day Afternoons In Howard County
It seems like it would be easy to find a home when you have pets in Howard County. All you think you need is either a back yard or a place to walk your pet. However, all parks aren’t created equal when it comes to our four legged friends.
Sure, fish, birds, even indoor cats, aren’t really an issue when it comes to picking a neighborhood for your new home, but paws that want to go outdoors are another breed altogether.
Howard County is less than an hour’s drive from Baltimore, so it’s an easy commute if you work in the city. The county also offers more dog-friendly accommodations than the city of Baltimore.
The Patuxent Branch Trail is part of the rail-trails system. One of 1600 rail-trails supported by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the rail lines are used to connect corridors and it’s a great place to walk with your dog in Columbia, MD.
It’s 4.5 miles long, and the asphalt trail runs between Lake Elkhorn Loop at Broken Land Pkwy and Savage Park north of Fair St & Baltimore St.
When visiting Columbia, MD, be sure to drop in to Black Flag Brewing. This pet-friendly brewery is a popular hangout spot.
Columbia Dog Park is owned and operated by Columbia Association (CA). With 2.7 acres the park provides plenty of opportunity for dogs to get vital exercise and socialization. Two separate fenced areas for small and large dogs are each equipped with benches, a watering station for dogs and multiple waste-disposal locations, with a supply of pet waste bags.
You will need an annual tag to enter the park.
The county seat of Howard County, Ellicott City, boasts a total of two beautiful dog friendly parks: Worthington Dog Park and Grist Mill Trail at Patapsco Valley State Park.
Worthington Dog Park is maintained by volunteers, who have made it a great place in Ellicott City to take your pooch. When many areas are flooded due to overflow from the Patapsco River, the dog park is at a higher elevation leaving it usually virtually unscathed.
It isn’t fancy, but dogs love it and the people that lobbied for it think it’s one of the best places for your dog to find some friends and run amok!
Three acres, with an enclosure for smaller, disabled, or elderly dogs, an enclosure with a climbing ramp and large metal pipes for a dog to run through, as well as benches and poop bags. People and dog water fountains for people and dogs are turned off during the winter and there are plenty of volunteers to talk to you about dogs and the park.
Grist Mill Trail at Patapsco Valley State Park, offers 2.5 miles of trail through the woods, plenty of places for your dog to stop and sniff. Also part of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, there is parking at either end of the trail.
Granville Gude Park covers 29 acres complete with "Cull Lake" (Laurel Lake).
The Park features
And most importantly, 1.25 miles of hiker/biker trails for you and your four legged pal to enjoy.
And speaking of Dog Days, why not put Doggie Dip Day on your calendar for September 10th at the Greenview Drive Pool, “to conclude the “Dog Days Of Summer.”
Howard County has a variety of doggie day care options, as well as over a dozen dog friendly restaurants.
If you’re looking for a new home for you and your dog, or if you have a new home to offer another pet lover in Howard County or any of these neighborhoods, contact Vsells & Associates today. Make every day a dog day.
Whether you are buying or selling, we at VSells & Associates make it our mission to guide our clients through the whole process. We make moving simple, straightforward, and as stress-free as possible.