Every Dog Has Its Day
Celebrate summer with pet-friendly patios, local dog parks and opportunities to help a shelter animal find a new home.
When the summer heat settles in and the dog days of August arrive, why not take the name literally? It’s the perfect excuse to spend a little extra time with your favorite four-legged family member. Whether your pup loves splashing in the water, exploring a new trail, making friends at the dog park or simply joining you for lunch on a pet-friendly patio, there’s no shortage of tail-wagging adventures to enjoy close to home.
Better yet, August is also Clear the Shelters month, a nationwide campaign that helps thousands of adoptable pets find loving homes. So, while you’re planning a few canine-friendly outings, consider making room for one more furry companion in your life. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to play, dine and cool off with your dog, along with local adoption events where you just might meet your new best friend.
Dining with dogs
You dine out with your crew, but why should your best friend be left out? These restaurants in Morris and Essex counties are some of the many that will make room (typically on the outdoor patio) for you and your dog. Just remember that feeding Fido table scraps isn’t ideal, you can count on the eatery to set up a water bowl for your pooch.
- 460 Bistro, 460 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, 973.524.6564
- Avenue Bistro, 558 Bloomfield Ave., Verona, 973.239.7444
- The Barn, 11 Green Pond Rd., Rockaway, 973.453.6900
- Black River Barn, 1178 Rte. 10, Randolph, 973.598.9988
- Faubourg, 544 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973.542.7700
- McCloone’s Boathouse, 9 Cherry Ln., West Orange, 862.252.7108
- Missy’s Main Street Café, 181 E. Main St., Rockaway, 973.625.0552
- Raymond’s, 28 Church St., Montclair, 973.744.9263
- Second Half on Main, 5 E. Main St., Denville, 973.784.4040
- South+Pine American Eatery, 90 South St., Morristown, 862.260.9700
Room to run
If you want to treat your pup to a romp in the park, our counties are home to many friendly dog parks, including:
- Branch Brook Park Dog Park, Branch Brook Park Drive, Newark
- Brookdale Dog Park, West Circuit Drive, Upper Montclair
- Central Park of Morris County, Collins Road, Morris Plains
- Hilltop Reservation Dog Park, Courter Lane, North Caldwell
- Lewis Morris County Park, Mendham Road, Morris Township
- Mount Olive Dog Park at Turkey Brook Park, Flanders Road, Mount Olive
- South Mountain Dog Park, 10 Bear Ln., Maplewood
- Watsessing Dog Park, Locust Avenue, Bloomfield
Find a new friend
If you’re thinking about welcoming a new furry friend into your family, there are several pet adoption centers and foster organizations in our counties that have animals (dogs, cats, bunnies and more) waiting for you to take them home, such as:
- Associated Humane Societies, Newark, 973.824.7080
- Bloomfield Animal Shelter, Bloomfield, 973.748.0194
- Eleventh Hour Animal Rescue, Dover, 973.970.0371
- Montville Animal Shelter, Montville, 973.344.6410
- Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter, East Hanover, 973.386.0590
- PAWS Montclair, Montclair, 973.746.5212
- Randolph Regional Animal Shelter, Randolph, 973.543.9333
- Rescue Haven Foundation; Caldwell
- Rosemarie’s Rescue Ranch, Verona, 973.220.1900
- St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, Madison, 973.377.2295
Want to see your furry friend featured in an upcoming issue of MORRIS & ESSEX magazine? Email your pet’s photo and a brief description to Editor Rita Guarna.
