How to Raise a Dog in Liberty Village

By Meg Marshall | April 17, 2016

Liberty Village has gone to the dogs, and that’s no understatement! There’s no official headcount, but we estimate that there are about 2000 canines currently calling Liberty Village their home. Many residents are opting to have “fur babies” instead of human babies, or they’re having both—and the neighbourhood has no shortage of resources for them.

Feed and General Supplies

Toys at Global Pet Foods. Photo: Goran Petkovski

These Liberty Village pet stores make finding general supplies easy.

• Pet Value at 1176 King St. W
• Global Pet Foods at 75 Hanna Ave
• Spaw Boutique at 844 King St W

Veterinary Care

New vet clinic, Liberty Village Animal Hospital.  Photo: Meg Marshall

Earlier this March, veterinarian Ellen Kinzl founded the Liberty Village Animal Hospital , a brand new animal clinic right at the heart of Liberty Village at 171 East Liberty Street, Unit 120.

Other nearby veterinary clinics include:

• King West Veterinary Clinic at 1029 King St W
• Dufferin Queen Animal Hospital at 1179 Queen St

Doggy Day Care

Pack of Paws.  Photo: Goran Petkovski

If you’re working long hours at the office and bringing Fido along just isn’t an option, consider enrolling your dog in a daycare.

Pack of Paws is a drop-off daycare located at 105 Jefferson St. Approximately 25-30 dogs are dropped off and picked up from Pack of Paws on a daily basis—just like a children’s day care.

Dog-Friendly Offices

Office Dog. Photo: Goran Petkvoski

As you go about your workday, don’t be alarmed to see four-legged friends greeting visitors at office entrances or riding in building elevators. Many office buildings in Liberty Village are welcoming dogs into their spaces, notably the Toronto Carpet Factory and the Dufferin Liberty Centre .

Hire A Dog Walker

Dog Walking. Photo: Walk My Dog TO

Sometimes bringing your dogs to work or enrolling them in daycare doesn’t work out from a logistical standpoint. If that’s the case for you, why not hire a dog walker? Dogs get more exercise, and dog-to-dog socialization with a dog-walker, which relieves anxiety for both dog and owner during extended periods of separation. Liberty Village has a few dog walkers to choose from:

• The Village Dog Pack
• Walk My Dog TO
• Condo Doggy
• Dog’s World Walking

Off Leash Park

Green space and parkland is limited in the concrete jungle of Liberty Village, but Stanley Park allows dogs to run off leash and free in the designated areas.

Even within this dense and urban neighborhood, it’s possible to successfully and happily raise a dog.