Guided by Community Input, the Mayor’s Pet-Friendly Task Group and Mars Petcare Are Partnering to Make Improvements for Both Pets and People
Sheboygan one of five U.S. cities awarded a “Better Cities For Pets” grant
Media Contact:
Office of the Mayor
920-459-3317
ryan.sorenson@sheboyganwi.gov
Lower blood pressure, increased physical activity, reduced stress levels, more cohesive neighborhoods, less isolation and loneliness… these are just a few of the many ways pets improve human lives. Recognizing the benefits of life with pets, and wanting to use its platform as the world’s largest provider of pet nutrition and veterinary care to encourage the same, Mars Petcare launched the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ initiative in 2017. The program offers a variety of tools and resources to assist municipalities in creating shelters, businesses, homes, and parks that are welcoming to all.
The BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ grant program is one such resource, awarding funding to a select number of cities each year. Following a competitive application process, five U.S. cities were selected to each receive a $20,000 grant award in December 2021: Las Vegas, Nevada; Dallas, Texas; Key West, Florida; Oakland, California; and the City of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Although it boasts dozens of parks, trails, and, beaches, the City of Sheboygan lacks outdoor recreation options for people and their pets. Looking to increase opportunities for residents to spend time outside with their four-legged friends, the Mayor’s Pet-Friendly Task Group applied to the program with a focus on parks and other public spaces.
“Every Sheboygan resident deserves options to get outdoors with their furry companions,” Mayor Ryan Sorenson said. “Having an adequate number of parks and green spaces open to pets and their humans is vital, especially for apartment dwellers and those without a private outdoor area. It’s also critical that we clearly communicate where pets are, and are not, allowed and that our parks remain clean and well-maintained. The BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ grant will allow the City to begin to tackle these issues through initiatives that would have otherwise been out of reach.”
Guided by community input from the recently completed Pet-Friendliness Evaluation, and in accordance with the terms of the grant, the Pet-Friendly Task Group will undertake a number of projects to increase pet-friendliness in its public spaces. The Group will recommend that the Common Council open several parks to pets, considering the results of the survey as they evaluate and select recommended sites.
Above: response summaries from Pet-Friendliness Evaluation, click image to enlarge.
Grant funds will be used to provide signage for all 36 Sheboygan parks, informing visitors whether or not pets are welcome. The grant will also outfit each pet-friendly park with pet waste stations, install pet water fountains at two locations, and create a dedicated page on the City’s website to serve as a hub for pet-related information and resources.
Remaining funds will be used to support the Humane Society of Sheboygan County’s new 3.5-acre dog park. Currently under construction, the fully-fenced and lighted space will be free and open to the public 24 hours a day. Featuring a walking path, pond with diving dock, agility course, and other amenities like dog wash stations and water fountains, the park will give dogs the freedom to run and socialize.
Pets that spend adequate time playing, investigating, and enjoying the outdoors are less likely to show aggression or have destructive behaviors, resulting in lower rates of surrender. “This year, the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ grant program focused on keeping people and their pets together,” said Jam Stewart, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Mars Petcare North America. “It’s our goal to keep as many people together with their pets as possible, which this year’s grant recipients are actively helping to address.”
The Pet-Friendly Task Group appreciates the public’s input and is committed making Sheboygan a friendly city for all. Guided by the community’s feedback, the group will continue working to develop recommendations that address other challenges highlighted in the survey including reducing obstacles to pet-friendly housing, encouraging businesses to adopt pet-friendly policies, educating the public on a variety of pet-related issues, and enforcing pet-related ordinances. Should residents have additional suggestions, the group encourages residents to share with their alderperson. Contact information can be found at www.sheboyganwi.gov/officials/common-council.
Mayor Sorenson hopes to build a city that works for all who call Sheboygan home. “We are confident that Sheboygan can comfortably accommodate both pets and people,” he said. “We sincerely appreciate Mars Petcare and the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ grant program’s support of the Pet-Friendly Task Group as we work to realize this vision.”
About the Grant
Since 2018, Mars Petcare has offered grants through the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program to help cities create or expand programs that provide more welcoming places for people and pets. With the grants, the company is helping cities across the United States in their efforts to help pets in need and keep people and their pets together.
About BETTER CITIES FOR PETS
Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program encourages and helps cities to be pet-friendly so more people can enjoy the benefits of a life with pets, from companionship to exercise to social connections. The program was created by Mars Petcare, the world’s leading pet nutrition and health care business, in partnership with experts in city planning and key government stakeholders. It includes a playbook for cities with free online resources, a city certification program, best practice research, policy advocacy and grants.
To view the full Mars Petcare “Keeping Pets and People Together” Report, please visit BetterCitiesforPets.com/2021report. To learn more about the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS Program and its grant program, please visit BetterCitiesForPets.com/grants.
About the Mayor’s Pet-Friendly Task Group
Formed in July 2020, the Mayor’s Pet-Friendly Task Group seeks to build a safe and inclusive community for all people and pets who call the City home. A collaborative effort bringing together City of Sheboygan officials and staff, the Humane Society of Sheboygan County (HSSC), and pet-loving residents, the Task Group is committed to continuing its work, developing recommendations that foster responsible ownership and increase acceptance of pets’ important role in the fabric of the community.
About Mars Petcare
Part of Mars Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, the 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries in Mars Petcare are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world’s pets – including brands PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, ROYAL CANIN®, NUTRO™, GREENIES™, SHEBA®, CESAR®, IAMS™ and EUKANUBA™ as well as the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of over 2,000 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™, Linnaeus, AniCura and Antech. We’re also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL™ genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE™ GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND™ programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in – and we choose to fight for our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.