Do you ever feel guilty for leaving your furry mate home alone when shopping? The struggle is over: now you can visit Chapel Street Precinct and take your dog shopping in Melbourne.

Chapel Street has become Australia’s first and largest shopping and entertainment area to permanently open its doors to dogs, which now can enter shops, gyms, salons, banks, several eateries and much more. You may even take a little holiday with your pet and stay at the Quest Prahran, the Precinct’s dog-friendly hotel.

The initiative was launched just in time for World Animal Day on October 4^th and it won’t be limited to that weekend, as confirmed by Chrissie Maus, Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA) General Manager. Businesses welcoming dogs will display a Paw-on-the-Door sticker on their windows or front doors, but if you want to plan your shopping trip you can also visit chapelstreet.com.au for a complete directory and digital map. Dogs can also accompany their owners to many of Chapel Street Precinct’s dining areas, as the eateries comply with Australia’s health regulations. Here dog owners can “kick back and enjoy a glass of wine or coffee while their pooch relaxes in our pet-friendly oasis”, assures James Bolton (Gramercy Social).

Are you a fashion enthusiast who often rushes browsing the stores to get back to your pet?

Now you can take your dog shopping in Melbourne’s retail hub. “Make sure you show your style while shopping and snap a selfie with your fur-ocious friend and upload it to Instagram using the #DogsOfChapelStreet hashtag”, recommends Jade Matthews from Tibbs and Bone, pet-friendly fashion store. “And if you’re single, it’s a proven fact that walking your dog is a great way to meet people.”

This shift towards more dog-friendly businesses is a response to the growing rate of pet ownership in Australia, now the world’s highest. For example, 65% of households in Victoria have a four-pawed family member and among those who do not, 59% wish they had one”.

Dogs truly have a positive impact on our lives; however, dog owners often have a hard time fitting their pet in their activities outside the house. So why not making it easier to include them more in our lives? “Dog owners are estimated to be four times more likely than non-dog owning adults to meet recommended physical activity guidelines”, points out Jonathon Somers, occupational therapist and Director of Next Practice Health Prahran. “On top of that, there are untold mental health advantages of sharing your life with a pet, with studies showing the love hormone oxytocin is released in the presence of animals like dogs and cats. We applaud Chapel Street on embracing this important aspect of our lives.”

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