Local business coordinate with town to lure dog owners to remain and check out the neighborhood
As the owner of a 16-year-old dog, Stephanie Worley prepares her holidays around her animal, Chevy.
“You live for your dog, actually, and whatever you do is a focus around them. You understand, specifically when you’re taking a trip,” said Worley, a citizen of Kamloops, B.C.
She’s precisely the sort of traveler the District of 100 Mile House is attempting to bring in with a unique stroller effort for animal owners.
This May vacation the Cariboo neighborhood, situated around 300 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, is providing visitors to its info centre the opportunity to obtain a dog stroller called a Dogger.
It’s part of a growing pattern to satisfy the requirements of animal owners who wish to accommodate the requirements of their furry good friends. Pet ownership skyrocketed during the pandemic which’s led to a shift in demand for pet-friendly services.
Worley says she enjoys the concept of neighborhoods attempting to lure her and her animal to go to.
“I would use [the stroller] 100 percent, specifically if I was taking a trip. Because, I suggest, how practical is that?” she said.
100 Mile House Mayor Maureen Pinkney approached regional business owner Ann-Marie Fleming — who runs Dog Quality, which uses items focused on making life much easier for senior dogs — with the concept after considering how the district already uses e-bikes for travelers.
The duo figured they might do a pilot job that might end up being a design template for other neighborhoods.
“We’ll simply make it so individuals can stop all over and walk their dogs,” said Pinkney.
Fleming said she saw the capacity for the job to bring in visitors along Highway 97 who may stop and spend a long time in the neighborhood.
“Tourism requires to be a little innovative nowadays and this is a terrific method,” said Fleming.
VIEW | Fleming takes her dogs out for a stroll:
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The stroller, which can accommodate dogs weighing as much as 60 pounds, is geared up with a tracker so the district will have the ability to see precisely where individuals go, the length of time they stop, and what locations they prevent.
This will permit the South Cariboo Visitor Centre to much better promote various locations of 100 Mile House like the close-by dog park, walking tracks and dog-friendly businesses downtown.
Social media capacity
Visitor centre supervisor Julie Gilmore sees big capacity for the brand-new pilot, stating about 80 percent of individuals who stop there take a trip with their animals.
“To get them out of the car and simply get them to remain … that’s simply another inviting addition,” she said.
David Carter, an associate mentor teacher in tourist at Thompson Rivers University, likewise believes it’s a terrific concept.
He believes while it will not generate global travelers, it will absolutely entice roadway trippers.
“That sort of symbolizes that they are dog-friendly location,” Carter said.
He likewise sees possible for the effort to do well online.
“Dogs drive a lot social networks material … the strollers and the dogs and all the photos and the TikTok reels or whatever that individuals are going to publish — this need to be excellent,” he said.
Hopes for growth
Currently, the pilot is utilizing one stroller with another reserved for future development. Fleming said the variety of strollers can be increased as required.
Both Fleming and Pinkney hope the pilot job will develop a network of neighborhoods that might be marketed for their dog-friendly facilities.
But they are beginning a little with a basic objective: “We present the pilot job, everyone falls for dog strollers and everyone falls for 100 Mile House,” said Fleming.
VIEW | Get a dog’s eye view from a stroller:
