Friendly places for furry friends in Horizon West and Orlando.

When finding a new place to live, there are a million factors to look into. In the search for the perfect home, one often overlooked family member is our furry friend. How dog friendly an area is can have a big impact on your pet. Luckily, Horizon West and Central Florida in general is a perfect place to have fun with your canine companions!
One of the most important ways to look out for your pet is to make sure they have lots of treats and toys to keep them healthy and happy. Bow Wow Bakery has several locations in the Horizon West and Central Florida area, including Ocoee and Winter Park. Bow Wow Bakery not only bakes plenty of yummy dog-safe cookies for your pets, but will even make birthday cakes to celebrate your furry friends! If you have a pooch with a discerning palate, Gracie’s of Winter Garden Natural and Holistic Pet Food has nutritionally superior food for your pets. They even have food specified for your dog’s energy level, food preferences and health issues. Investing in your pet’s health can make all the difference down the road, and Horizon West provides you with plenty of options for better food choices.
While there are many local businesses that make sure your pet is feeling good on the outside, there is one special one that makes sure your pet is looking good on the outside. Lavender Menace is a local business that creates pet bandanas to attach to any collar, made from your choice of hundreds of different fabric selections. You simply pick your fabric, what name you want sewn into your pet’s bandana and they deliver your pet’s newest fashion accessory straight to you! They have also added a new option where you can order a mask that matches your pet’s bandana fabric. While they typically visit the Winter Garden, Windermere, and Lake Eola Farmer’s Markets, you can also order from their website, personalizeddogbandanas.com.

Orlando is home to one of the largest and oldest pet shelters in all of Florida, the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando in 2018 provided 6,601 families with new pets and saved over 1,400 pets from being euthanized in other shelters. The Pet Alliance hosts events year round to make sure your pets are getting out and having fun, like their recent Dog Day Afternoon Costume Contest. Their yearly Furball also raises funds to make sure that all the animals in their care receive the best treatment possible. Your future pet might be waiting for you at the Pet Alliance!
There are dog parks aplenty in Orlando and each of them with a unique draw. Lake Baldwin Park, for instance, is beachfront which promises to offer your pet an exciting new experience. Perhaps your doggy is a little more active and prefers a challenge? Barber Dog Park offers agility equipment which gives your dogs a proper workout. And while each of these parks offer great accessibility, there is nothing better than having space for your dogs in your same neighborhood. Many of Horizon West’s neighborhoods feature dog parks steps away from your home to make sure your doggy always has options.
Winter Garden’s Main Street is a huge draw in Horizon West, with trendy shops and restaurants paving the sides of the road. Walking down the street with your pup, while fun, can sometimes leave them with a tongue wagging from the heat. Luckily, as you walk down Main Street in Downtown Winter Garden you’ll find that most stores and restaurants will put out bowls of water and sometimes even treats for your walking companions! It is extra little touches like these that make Horizon West such a dog friendly area.

While there is plenty for your canine companions to do, Central Florida does not forget about your feline friends either! Clermont, west of the heart of Orlando, is home to Florida’s first cat cafe! The Orlando Cat Cafe offers a cozy environment where you can grab a cup of coffee and cuddle with the cutest cats that SPCA Florida has to offer. The cats roam freely throughout the cafe and should you fall in love with one, they are each available for adoption! This innovative business is perfect for any cat lover.
Moving to a new area can be scary, with so many factors to keep in mind. However, moving to Horizon West can ease each of those concerns. Whether you’re looking for fun restaurants, trendy shopping, or even just the perfect place for your furry friends, Horizon West has you covered.

Mike Spicer An official Agent of Excellence, is a local Realtor, lives, works and enjoys Horizon West daily. If you ever have questions about the neighborhoods, the parks, or homes in the area feel free to reach out to Mike directly he would love to help. This blog written by, the Michael Spicer, P.A. Team.

Michael Spicer, P.A.
Horizon West Group
Associate Broker
Keller Williams Realty at the Lakes
407-705-2232
Mike@MikeSpicer.com