The holiday season is the peak time for spending quality time with your close ones—and that includes our furry friends and family too! Many of us like to include our pets in the festivities, and Memphis has plenty of opportunities to do just that.
Before we dive into the events, let’s go ahead and get this out there: Just because you CAN take your pet doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
Memphis-based dog trainer Ann Marie Easton with Pawsitive Companionship encourages pet parents to consider whether their animal is prepared for the outing before taking them.
“Are they comfortable in these situations? Do they enjoy gatherings? Do they enjoy being pet? Some of us are outgoing and the life of the party, while others tend to be wallflowers. The same can be said of our dogs,” said Easton. “A social butterfly golden retriever may feel relaxed and comfortable at a party, while their timid or anxious littermate may find the event too scary. If you have not socialized your dog to people, including children, other dogs, and noisy situations, it’s best to leave them at home.”
If you have a cat—unless they are used to a harness and leash, as well as going on outings—a public event is probably not the place to initiate that encounter. However, if you have trained your cat to be an adventurer who is already comfortable out in the world on a harness, keep scrolling because you will find a couple quiet events here that may be appropriate for them to attend.
And this should go without saying, but anytime you take your pet somewhere, be courteous. Keep them on leash and clean up after them. Neither of these are optional—they’re the law!
Each of the following events are either pet-friendly or pet-benefitting:
**Always be sure to double check that pets are allowed before bringing them anywhere**
ACTIVITIES FOR DOGS
Paw-Liday Wonders at the Garden | Memphis Botanic Garden
- When: Thursday, December 28 (5PM-8:30PM)
- Where: 750 Cherry Rd
- Cost: $12 MBG Members; $15 Non-Members; $17 Same Day
Explore Holiday Wonders at the Garden with your pups.
Grab tickets here.
PET-FRIENDLY HUMAN EVENTs
Walk + Bike Lights Night at Starry Nights | Shelby Farms Park
Cruise through the Starry Nights lights on foot or on a bicycle on Thursday, December 28, at Walk + Bike the Lights Night when the show is closed to cars. Dogs are welcome and must be on-leash, leash in hand at all times.
- When: Monday, December 28
- Where: Shelby Farms Park | 6903 Great View Dr. N.
- Cost: $6.95-10 per human
Purchase tickets here.
PET PICTURES WITH SANTA
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop
- When: Through December 24, 2023
- Where:
- Bass Pro Shop at the Pyramid: 1 Bass Pro Dr.
- Bass Pro Shops at 6140 Macon Rd.
- Cost: Free
Both Bass Pro Shop locations in Memphis are pet-friendly, and pets are welcome to get a FREE 4×6 photo with Santa in Santa’s Wonderland.
Secure your time slot here.
**If your dog is one that would not be comfortable in a public setting, don’t worry! You can still get their photo with Santa. There are a number of online services like Santa Pix that enable you to create virtual pictures with Santa**
Find more ways to have a paw-fect holiday season:
Have You Thought About Hosting a Supply Drive for Your Community?
You’re Fit to Be a Memphis Animal Foster
