Contact: Beth Morin

970/247-5455

bethm@zukes.com

Durango is a doggone friendly town!

The lifestyle in this town is truly one for the dogs! Durango, Colorado, boasts miles of trails to hike, rivers to swim and an outdoorsy, dog-friendly atmosphere. When you’re ready to escape the dog-eat-dog world of the big city, Durango is the natural choice. According to the Durango Humane Society, close to 1,000 dogs are registered in the city of Durango, likely a conservative estimate of how many dogs actually call this town home.

Durango confirmed its four-pawed fetish by opening the Durango Dog Park (http://www.durangogov.org/ resident/parks_leisure/dogpark.html) in December 2003. Located at the base of Smelter Mountain on the banks of the Animas River, this 5-acre park allows dogs to run, roam and swim off leash. The Dog Park hosts the Durango Dog Days of Summer — a day of canine-theme events including an auction, fun-run, vendor booths, demonstrations, canine carnival games and activities that benefit the Dog Park.

When you’re dog-tired and looking for a place to spend the night, many local hotels will extend a warm welcome to both you and your pet:

Zuke’s Performance Pet Nutrition found Durango dog-friendly and relocated its sales and marketing offices from Albuquerque to Durango in 2001. The company’s line of healthy, natural dog and cat treats is sold in natural foods groceries, specialty pet shops and outdoor stores around the United States and in five countries.

Still not convinced? Well-behaved dogs (and their owners) are welcome to "Skabecue" at Ska Brewing Company. This seasonal, bi-weekly, happy-hour party features Ska beer and local specialty foods. Jitters’ Java drive-thru coffee kiosk on the corner of 8^{th St. and Main Ave. hands out treats to all doggies on board. When strolling downtown, your pooch will appreciate the numerous water bowls outside retail shops. Health code doesn’t allow dogs inside restaurants, but outdoor cafes have tables where your well-behaved dog is welcome.}

Any local dog will tell you that the Horse Gulch trail system, the Colorado Trail and the other 2,000 miles of trails in the area are great places to hike and run. If a long day of fun leaves your dog smelling not-so-fresh, Durango now has a do-it-yourself dog wash. Dirty Dogz on College Drive provides everything you need to groom your dog, including herbal shampoos, wash tubs, blow dryers and brushes.

"There’s no better dog-loving town," says Patrick Meiering, president and founder of Zuke’s. "In Durango, dogs are an important part of everything people do."