Each year, the magazine 30 Millions d’Amis establishes a ranking of cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants where it is pleasant to live with your dog. With an overall score of 17.1 out of 20, Nice takes the top spot on the podium this year, ahead of Montpellier and Toulouse.
The Mission on Animal Welfare, created in 2015, ensures key actions in terms of accessibility (12 dog play areas, a canine beach and the creation of a second one, transport accessibility…); cleanliness (free distribution of poop bags, 7 dog rest areas, 14 motorbikes for canine waste…); awareness campaigns (campaign against incivilities, against abandonment…); and commitment (free pound services for the most disadvantaged, Croquettes du Soleil program for pet owners without stable housing, support for associations that feed stray cats…), all of which are criteria demonstrating the integration of dogs in the city.
During a press conference, Christian Estrosi and Henry-Jean Servat, delegated municipal councilor, presented the numerous actions implemented in favor of animals in the city, as well as future initiatives such as allowing assistance dogs to access all 152 parks and gardens without a leash, experimenting with muzzled and leashed dogs on trams, creating a municipal police brigade specialized in animal abuse, and launching the “Animal Alone at Home” initiative.
If they could also add civics training for the owners of “man’s best friends,” it wouldn’t be too much to ask: does the Magazine 30 Millions d’Amis include canine waste in its ranking criteria?
