Market Spotlight: Florida
With year-round, dog-friendly beaches, outdoor dining, and endless green parks, Florida is an easy place to live with dogs. Cities like Miami, Orlando and Tampa all cater to their numerous pet families with pet-friendly restaurants, businesses, and activities.
With more than 28 dog parks, 234 dog-friendly restaurants and the beautiful dog-friendly Hobie Beach, Miami is often ranked among the top 10 most dog-friendly cities in the US.
Ranked No. 1 in the nation for pet-friendly restaurants per capita, Orlando takes pet-friendly living to the next level. Orlando was also ranked the most dog-friendly US vacation destination by Booking.com.
Based on 2026 data, Tampa ranks second among all cities in terms of dog-friendliness, thanks to its high number of dog parks, pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, and year-round pet-friendly activities. A study by Coworking Cafe named Tampa one of the Top 10 cities in America “for balancing office work and pet life,” citing its relatively short commute times.
Miami
Comprising Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Miami and Pembroke Pines, the greater Miami market is home to 122 pet specialty store locations operated by 55 different companies.
With a population of 442,241 and a median household income of $66,337, Miami is home to 45 pet stores serving 4,506 households per store.
Davie boasts five stores that serve 7,877 households. The total population is 105,691 with a median household income of $86,560.
Seven stores keep Fort Lauderdale’s population of 182,760 shopping. With 11,109 households per pet store, the city has a median household income of $90,734.
Hialeah has six stores with 13,192 households per pet store. The city has a population of 223,109 and a median household income of $57,151.
Pembroke Pines has eight stores that serve 7,999 households each. The total population is 171,178, with a median household income of $87,537.
Pet Supermarket leads the pack with 21 stores, followed by Woof Gang Bakery with 18 stores, and PetSmart with 12. The top three retailers make up 41.8 percent of the market share.
Orlando
The greater Orlando market has 121 pet specialty store locations run by 48 different companies. The market covers Kissimmee, Mount Dora, Orlando, Oviedo, and Winter Park. Woof Gang Bakery leads the market with 26 locations, followed by Pet Supermarket with 16 stores, PetSmart with 14, and Petco with 11. Single-store retailers make up 28.1 percent of the market with 34 locations—that’s up four stores from 2025.
With a population of 307,573 and a median income of $77,597, Orlando has 44 stores serving 3,123 households per store. Winter Park has eight stores and Kissimmee has seven stores. Winter Park has a population of 29,795 and a median household income of $98,076. Kissimmee has a population of 79,226 and a median household income of $65,503.
In historic Oviedo, five stores serve 2,655 households each. The median household income is $144,092.
With a population of 16,341, Mount Dora has five stores that each serve 1,426 households. The median household income is $69,931.
Tampa
With 145 pet specialty store locations run by 63 different companies, the Tampa market includes Clearwater, Largo, St. Petersburg, Tampa and Valrico. The market is led by Woof Gang Bakery with 18 locations, PetSmart with 16 locations, and Pet Supermarket with 15 locations, which represent 33.8 percent of the market. Other retailers make up 36.5 percent of the market and include names like Pet Supplies Plus, Petco, Max’s Pet Market & Salon, EarthWise Pet, Bark Life, and The Modern Paws. Single-store retailers round out the Tampa pet market with 29.7 percent.
With a population of 384,959 and a median household income of $84,114, Tampa has 29 pet stores serving 6,069 households per store.
Eight stores serve 6,462 households in Clearwater. The total population is 117,292, with a median household income of $66,357. Largo and Valrico have six stores each. Largo, with a population of 82,485 and a median household income of $58,486, serves 6,437 households per store. Valrico has a population of 37,895 and a median household income of $98,451. Each store serves 2,356 households.
St. Petersburg has a population of 258,308, a median household income of $73,048, and its 12 stores serve 10,311 households each.
Pet Businesses
Mike Nistazos, Owner and Operator of Dunedin Pet Supply, an all-natural pet store in Dunedin, FL, believes the town’s pet-friendliness has led to many opportunities. “Pets are part of everyday life—whether that’s outdoor dining, beach trips, or community events. That creates a strong demand for high-quality nutrition, natural, durable products, and wellness support tailored to active lifestyles,” Nistazos explained.
He continued, “Florida also brings unique considerations—like heat, skin sensitivities, allergies, and pests—which allows us to really specialize and guide customers toward solutions that fit this environment. What’s helped us thrive is a combination of community connection, education, and trust. We’ve built relationships with our customers by being consistent, honest, and genuinely invested in their pets’ well-being. Word-of-mouth has been huge for us, and so has staying engaged in the local community, along with donations to the local food pantry and pet adoption agencies, which allows us to give back to help all our pets in need.”
While many stores focus on trends, Nistazos had a different vision. Through real conversations and guidance, he wanted to help pet parents in his community understand why certain foods, treats, or products are better for their pets. As for the name, Dunedin Pet Supply, he commented, “It was intentional. I wanted something that clearly reflects our roots in the local community. Dunedin has such a strong, loyal, and pet-loving culture, and it was important that the name felt approachable, local, and trustworthy—like a neighborhood staple rather than a big-box store. Most importantly, every town needs a hometown pet store, and we are Dunedin Pet Supply, ‘Your Hometown Pet Store.’”
As an advocate in his community for pets and their families, there are many conversations that Nistazos would like to have. “I also think behavioral training is often overlooked or misunderstood. Many issues pet owners face can be improved with consistency, proper stimulation, and understanding the pet’s needs—not just reacting to unwanted behavior. Ultimately, I want pet parents to feel empowered—not overwhelmed—so they can make confident choices that lead to healthier, happier lives for their pets.”
From military service to a degree in Business Administration to a transition into the private sector and the pet industry, Paul Lewis, President and CEO of The Green K9, used his own experience as a dog owner to drive his own company’s path forward. Lewis elaborated, “In 2007, a negative experience boarding my own dogs inspired me to create a better alternative. My goal was to move away from traditional kennels toward a ‘Pet Resort’ model. After securing a $1.6 million loan, I built a resort in Davie, FL, which I operated for seven years before selling to a national chain.”
He continued, “When we founded The Green K9, our mission was to prioritize sustainability within the pet space. We worked with consultants to use recycled materials for our build-out, installed LED lighting, utilized recycled shelving, and provided biodegradable bags. We even incorporated an electric vehicle and charging station into our operations. The name ‘The Green K9’ reflects this commitment to being an environmentally conscious business.”
Their location in the Mt. Dora community gave Green K9 a unique advantage. Lewis noted, “When we moved to Lake County, we identified an opportunity to introduce a ‘four-in-one’ luxury concept—boarding, daycare, grooming, and high-end retail—that was previously unavailable in the area. By offering premium services and unique products that national chains could not provide, we were able to thrive by bringing a level of service to Florida that was typically only seen in markets like Colorado.”
Lewis has been in the pet industry for almost 30 years, and throughout those decades, he has seen pet wellness and nutrition evolve significantly. He remarked, “We always recommend a well-balanced, high-quality diet, and all the foods we carry are 4- to 5-star rated. Regarding behavioral training, we believe it is a partnership; both the owner and the dog require training to create a harmonious household. We are also strong advocates for early training and group socialization.”
Aguilera was compelled to open Benson’s Doggie Bag because she felt like local stores were missing the unique combination of education, transparency, and genuine care that pet parents need today. She noted, “A lot of stores sell products, but not all take the time to truly guide pet parents on nutrition, ingredients, and long-term health. We focus heavily on helping customers understand why they’re choosing a product—not just what to buy. We also emphasize fresh, high-quality bakery items and curated nutrition options that you don’t typically find in big-box retailers. It’s about elevating the standard.”
The Florida market is unique, and for that, Aguilera is grateful. She said, “Florida—especially markets like Lakeland and Tampa—is ideal for pet businesses. You have a high percentage of pet ownership, a strong sense of community, and people who are increasingly focused on health and wellness—not just for themselves, but for their pets.”
She continued, “One unique opportunity here is the ability to build relationships. This isn’t a transactional market; it’s relational. Customers want to know you, trust you, and come back because of the experience. What’s allowed us to thrive is staying disciplined on a few key things: Customer experience—every interaction matters. Product integrity—we stand behind what we sell. Education—we don’t just sell, we guide. Consistency—showing up the same way every day. That combination builds loyalty, and in this industry, loyalty is everything.”
At Benson’s Doggie Bag, Aguilera has many conversations with pet parents, but the most important one she’d like to have is around long-term health versus short-term convenience. “Nutrition is foundational,” Aguilera expressed. “Many pet health issues we see—skin problems, digestive issues, low energy—can often be traced back to diet. I encourage pet parents to look at ingredients, understand protein sources, and avoid unnecessary fillers. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require awareness. At the end of the day, our role isn’t just to sell products—it’s to help pet parents make better decisions so their pets live longer, healthier, happier lives.”
As a young man, Jarbas Godoy, Owner of The Dog from Ipanema, bred and trained show dogs. That experience also taught him how to groom them properly. Later, his work with a well-known Miami groomer also gave him the confidence to open up his own salon. As for the unique name, he reported, “The name was created by my wife at the time, and she had the idea of giving my clients an idea of what kind of accent I had. The second question in my mind was what was missing in the pet industry at the time. It was cleaning. Since it was considered an animal field, most stores at that time were not very clean. Our store is innovative by being open to the public, clean and decorated with live plants.”
Being a vital part of the pet families’ lives is something Godoy takes seriously. He said, “We have always had talks with our clients about proper nutrition, proper grooming, and proper care of their babies. I believe it to be an important part of being a pet store owner. We can always help our local community by sharing our knowledge.”
Florida’s pet-friendly culture makes it clear that putting pets and their people at the center of their cities creates trust, education, and caring communities.
