Lakewood Ranch is full of places focused on catering to canines

From gourmet treats to holistic care, explore the best local resources for your canine companions.


Glad Wags marketing coordinator/field manager Csenge Csicsek with her dog, Uka; Glad Wags founder Chris Cooper with her dog, Ivy; and office/field manager Amanda Gunter with her dog, Bodhi.
Glad Wags marketing coordinator/field manager Csenge Csicsek with her dog, Uka; Glad Wags founder Chris Cooper with her dog, Ivy; and office/field manager Amanda Gunter with her dog, Bodhi.
Photo by Lori Sax
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Lakewood Ranch is a welcoming community of friendly neighbors. Our canine companions are some of the friendliest neighbors. 

The humans in their pack can pamper and care for them with a variety of locally sourced services and experiences. The Ranch’s multiple options include top-notch daycare and safe boarding, specialized dog-walking and babysitting services, holistic pet stores, gourmet bakeries and stylish boutiques. 

Here are a few canine-friendly spots you’ll find close to home. They’re all locally owned and operated.



Pet Supplies and Services

DOGPerfect’s services include professional grooming and self-serve dog washing. Its pros have a clear definition of pooch perfection: Helping you and your dog sustain a life-long relationship by providing healthy, nutritional products and nurturing services. 11605 S.R. 70, Lakewood Ranch; 941-803-4496; DogPerfect.com.

Holistic for Pets offers a curated selection of healthy and holistic food, treats, supplements and supplies for your furry friends. Their encyclopedic expertise is free. 5770 Ranch Lake Blvd., No. 132, Bradenton; 941-753-7297; HolisticForPets.com.

Three Dog Bakery & Grooming delights pups with freshly baked treats and specialty items. Its tasty options include celebration cakes, pastries and cookies. While pet parents can’t eat them, with clever names like “Boxer Brownies” and “Let ‘Em Eat Carrot Cake,” they’ll still make you smile. You’ll also find a vast selection of unique toys, rawhides, chews, grooming essentials and the latest in four-legged fashion accessories. Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park; 941-355-0399; ThreeDogStores.com.

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming serves up high-quality food, fresh-baked treats, and health and wellness supplies. Thanks to its grooming services, your canine companion can also keep up appearances. 8314 Market St., Lakewood Ranch; 941-907-9111; WoofGangBakeryLWR.com.


Dog Daycare and Boarding

Bayside Pet Resort’s pet care experts provide a four-star experience for each four-legged guest. They get to know each pooch and provide individualized care based on their unique needs and personalities. With perks like customized itineraries, maid service and a daily multipoint health inspection by supervising staff, your pet will enjoy the vacation of a lifetime. 15117 Garnet Trail, Lakewood Ranch; 941-755-3047; BaySidePetResort.com.

Woofdorf Astoria is a luxe pet resort and spa, offering doggie daycare, spacious boarding suites, indoor and outdoor play areas, group play sessions and grooming. The furry friends focus on fun; the highly trained staff keeps an eye on safety. 10615 Technology Terrace, No. 104, Bradenton; 941-203-4036; WoofdorfLakewoodRanch.com

Pet Paradise provides heavenly boarding, daycare, veterinary care, training and grooming services for your furry family members. Its state-of-the-art facility includes synthetic grass play areas, auto-fill water bowls, shaded yards and misting stations. 10411 Portal Crossing, Bradenton; 941-209-1021; PetParadise.com

Glad Wags gets tails wagging with dependable, in-home pet care. Its services include dog-walking, cat sitting, pet-related errands and home watching. Thanks to a user-friendly mobile app, clients get photos and detailed reports of every visit. GladWags.com.


Adoption Services

Donte’s Den keeps its pups healthy and happy with essential vaccinations, spaying or neutering, in-depth health checks and plenty of love and attention. Its Joyful Dogs Adoption Program ensures that pooches and prospective parents are made for each other. Donte’s also offers obedience training and lifetime care for dogs who can no longer live with their owners. 6801 283rd St. E., Myakka City; 941-219-3730; DontesDen.org.

Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch provides a safe haven for companion animals in need. Its dedicated team offers medical care, vaccinations and microchipping. 6920 Gopher Hill Road, Myakka City; 941-361-1071, HSLWR.org.

Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue is a loving sanctuary for rescued dogs and cats. While awaiting their new forever homes, they feel right at home at this eight-acre no-kill shelter and adoption facility. 4951 Lorraine Road, Bradenton; NatesHonorAnimalRescue.org.


Pet Hospitals and Clinics

Animal Hospital at Lakewood Ranch is a full-service veterinary facility staffed by dedicated professionals. They’ve been committed to the health and well-being of pets since 2013. 9115 58th Dr. E., Lakewood Ranch; 941-751-0101; LakewoodRanchAH.com.

University Animal Clinic provides first-class veterinary and urgent care for dogs, cats and pets of all descriptions, including exotic animals like reptiles and amphibians. 8239 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton; 941-253-5218; TheUniversityAnimalClinic.com.

Veterinary Medical Center at LWR delivers a full range of veterinary care at its fully equipped facility. 15205 Garnet Trail, Bradenton; 941-739-1800; LakewoodRanchVet.com

author

Marty Fugate

Marty Fugate is a writer, cartoonist and voiceover actor whose passions include art, architecture, performance, film, literature, politics and technology. As a freelance writer, he contributes to a variety of area publications, including the Observer, Sarasota Magazine and The Herald Tribune. His fiction includes sketch comedy, short stories and screenplays. “Cosmic Debris,” his latest anthology of short stories, is available on Amazon.

author

Su Byron

Su Byron has worked in the regional arts and cultural world for the past 25 years as a writer, an editor, and a public relations and marketing specialist. For 12 of those years, she was the co-publisher of the Sarasota Arts Review, a monthly arts and entertainment newspaper. Su is a freelance writer whose regular columns and articles appear in a host of regional and national publications.

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