Dog-friendly campaign launched to welcome canines to community and bring awareness

Monday, March 31, 2014

GRCVB Contact:
Luke Chaffin, Special Projects Coordinator
706.295.5576
Luke@RomeGeorgia.org
www.RomeGeorgia.org 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dog-friendly campaign launched to welcome canines to community and bring awareness

ROME, GA. — The Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) announced today the launch of the Paws Permitted in Georgia’s Rome campaign in an effort to connect dog owners with dog-friendly businesses, and to bolster awareness of proper pet etiquette in public.

Participation in the Paws Permitted program is free of charge to all businesses in Rome and Floyd County. Participants receive an imprinted dog bowl and decal denoting their status as a canine-friendly establishment. A free online listing of the business is also included at www.RomeGeorgia.org. 

Organizations that do not allow animals inside are still welcome to be a part of the campaign if an outdoor area is provided near a main entrance that is suitable for a dog to rest and refresh.

“We saw a need for a collaborative effort to make dog owners and their furry friends feel more welcomed in Rome and Floyd County,” said Luke Chaffin, GRCVB special projects coordinator. “A dog-friendly community not only contributes to the quality of life for its residents, but also attracts a new type of leisure traveler when they see us open our arms to man’s best friend.”

The launch of the initiative coincides with the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) Region 22 Certification Trials in Rome, April 6-11, 2014. The event is hosted by the City of Rome and Rome Police Department and will test dogs in everything from agility to obedience, evidence searches, criminal apprehension and more. Canines from various agencies throughout Alabama, Georgia and portions of Tennessee will be tested at the training certification.

“Our USPCA visitors will be thrilled to be met by such a warm welcome from dog-friendly Rome,” said Lisa Smith, GRCVB executive director. “We’ll have some of the region’s best-behaved canines and their handlers here for the week, making it the perfect opportunity to debut this campaign.”

Businesses that are interested in being a part of the Paws Permitted program are asked to contact Luke Chaffin at 706.295.5576 or by email at Luke@RomeGeorgia.org by Friday, April 4. Paws Permitted decals and dog bowls will be hand-delivered, but can also be picked up at the Rome-Floyd Visitor Center at 402 Civic Center Dr. across from Applebee’s.

Additional information on Paws Permitted in Georgia’s Rome including a current listing of dog-friendly businesses and helpful tips is available at www.RomeGeorgia.org/PawsPermitted.

For more information about the GRCVB and tourism in Rome and Floyd County, visit www.RomeGeorgia.org or call the Rome-Floyd Visitor Center at 706.295.5576.

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The Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) is the official destination and sports marketing organization of Rome and Floyd County, Georgia. The GRCVB’s mission is to strengthen the economic fabric of the community through tourism development by attracting leisure travelers, conventions, meetings, sports and events.

About the Author

Our Georgia's Rome tourism team works hard to curate content to help you discover and explore our beautiful town! We want to ensure our content is up-to-date and accurate; so please let us know if we ever overlook an important detail! This post was originally written by Kristi Kent and is updated by staff.