Dog Days of Summer

There’s nothing sadder than the sight of a pooch watching you walk out the door, keys in hand and no leash. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Acadiana offers many pet-friendly spots these days, from well-developed dog parks and long stretches of beach to restaurants, breweries and coffee shops. And if you’re just in need of bestowing fur love, there are numerous shops and a cool new cat café where pets await your attention.

Tails wag and friendships grow at the dog park inside Moncus Park, Lafayette’s favorite off-leash gathering spot.

Let the Dogs Out

Lafayette: Remove the leash and let your pup run free at Best Friends Bark Park in Moncus Park; the elevated 1,000-square-foot overlook allows families to keep an eye on things. Moncus has another off-leash fenced park for small breeds to play in at Giles Automotive Family Small Dog Park. Both parks require a permit upon entry and are open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. ¶ It’s off-leash on the north side of Lafayette at Brown Memorial Dog Park and a spacious Beaullieu Park Dog Park on the south side separates areas for large and small dogs.

Lake Charles: Let canines run free at the dog park at Enos Derbonne Sports Complex and the Bark du Lac located just off the interstate in downtown Lake Charles. Both feature ramps, tunnels, agility equipment and more. Fideaux Field dog park in nearby Sulphur separates big and little dogs to keep things friendly.

Morgan City: Dogs may run free at the off-leash facility separated by small and large dogs at the Bark Park located at the west end of Lake End Park Campground & Marina. While their pooches play, dog parents may relax on the benches that overlook stunning views of Lake Palourde.

LAKE CHARLES

Pawradise Found

Nothing screams happiness to a dog more than wide open spaces for them to run free, especially when there’s warm sand beneath their paws and water to play in. The Creole Nature Trail’s public Gulf beaches south of Lake Charles offer miles of canine heaven and all are pet friendly.

“I take my pup for a ride through the Creole Nature Trail down to Holly Beach,” said Visit Lake Charles Director of Public Relations Devan Corbello. “He loves the water and running through the sand (he’s a retired racing greyhound).”

Holly Beach is one of four beaches — Mae’s Beach, Rutherford and Little Florida Beach are the others along the Creole Nature Trail — but stores to purchase food and drink are few along the Louisiana coast. Be sure to bring sunscreen, beach towels, a cooler with drinks and a bowl for Fido for when the temperatures rise.

ACROSS THE REGION

Fur Real

Pets are allowed at Louisiana State Parks, so bring along your fur friends to enjoy the many park trails and outdoor spaces that are offered throughout the state. Pets must be on a leash no more than 6 feet in length and none are allowed to run free on park property. Overnight visits are allowed as well; visitors may bring up to two dogs to pet-friendly designated cabins for an extra fee. However, pets, except for service animals, are prohibited in all group camps, other enclosed structures, swimming areas and cabins not designated as dog friendly.

Naturally, pet owners must pay for injury or damage caused by their four-legged family members.

Some parks in Acadiana to consider bringing your pets are Palmetto Island south of Abbeville, Chicot outside Ville Platte, Cypremort Point and Lake Fausse Pointe south and southeast of Lafayette, Sam Houston Jones north of Lake Charles and Grand Isle south of Houma, all of which have hiking trails for dogs and their parents to explore.

Coffee, cuddles and cat adoptions come together at Second Chance Cat Café, a cozy community hub for feline lovers.

Feline Latte

Cats literally get a fresh opportunity at finding their fur-ever home at the Second Chance Cat Café in Houma. On one side of the building, visitors may pick up a latte or other refreshing beverage and on the other, reserve a 50-minute session with all the feline love they want to bestow. And if you happen to fall in love with one of the 12-14 cats in the cat lounge at any time, they’re all available for adoption after an application process. The cat café opened on Black Friday last year (Nov. 28, 2025) and as of this spring placed 55 cats in permanent homes!

Second Chance has several missions, said owner Lan Tivet. A visit with the cats helps a person’s psyche, she said, plus the facility offers opportunities for visitors to find the right pet whether on a first visit and after several trips to make sure cat and owner are a right fit. Second Chance also provides educational opportunities to the community, from workshops on trapping and spaying/neutering feral cats to explaining animal rescue and pet fostering in Acadiana.

“It’s starting to become an understanding as to how the process works,” Tivet said of both her business and the need for animal rescue. “It’s not just a come and get a cup of coffee and play with the cats. It’s a community hub.”

The cost is $15 per session and $8 during a “happy hour” at 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. “We call it a Catting Hour,” Tivet said.

Follow the Pirates

The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in South Louisiana consists of several park centers in addition to the Barataria Preserve where the famous pirate found refuge and the Chalmette Battlefield where Lafitte met the British at the Battle of New Orleans. Service pets are always welcome at the parks’ centers, but non-service pets are not allowed in the buildings or at public events of the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette, the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux and the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice. However, leashed dogs are allowed in the parking areas and on the grounds at the Acadian Cultural Center and the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. For more detailed information, visit
nps.gov/jela/planyourvisit/pets.htm.

Photograph by Romero & Romero

Pet Contest Winner: Emmy

Origin Story

Emmy’s people, Steve and Sharon, adopted her from the Lafayette Animal Shelter and Care Center in November 2019. She was the only female of her litter.

Zoomies

Emmy is obsessed with fetch — specifically with ping pong-sized rubber balls. Night after night, she demands late-night throwing sessions in the bedroom. She launches onto two legs to snag balls midair with impressive precision. No throw is too difficult.

The Naps

She prefers to sleep tucked away in cozy little hideouts — a linen closet, high on a shelf in a coat closet, or wedged between the bedroom curtain and a sunny window. But when the weather turns cold, she’ll occasionally abandon her private retreats to curl up in bed with her people.

Scratches

She adores being brushed and can often be found perched on the bathroom sink, patiently waiting for someone to reach for a brush or comb.

Munchies

Emmy is a dainty grazer, snacking in little bites throughout the day. To keep the youngest cat from stealing her food, her meals are served on a bar shelf only she can reach and her treats are hidden in a puzzle tray that only Emmy has managed to crack.

NEW IBERIA

Road Trip

On a recent move our three cats were not happy to be in their carriers in the car for a long ride. Not at all! However, our dog couldn’t get enough. How about a car ride through the countryside of Iberia Parish down to Jefferson Island and Rip Van Winkle Gardens? There, dogs are allowed on the grounds of this 25-acre attraction on Lake Peigneur as long as they are leashed and well behaved.

The property was once the home of acclaimed American actor Joseph Jefferson, known for his depiction on the stage as literary character Rip Van Winkle. Hence the name. Jefferson purchased the property and built the home in 1870 and developed the gardens on top of what is a coastal salt dome. (Note: dogs are not allowed inside the mansion.)

Visitors may stroll through the elaborate Rip Van Winkle Gardens and admire Lake Peigneur where in 1980 a strange rig drilling accident caused the lake to disappear inside the salt dome beneath, then enjoy a bite at Café Jefferson where dogs and their owners may dine on the outside patio.

Tail-Wagging Events

There are numerous pet-friendly events held throughout the year in Acadiana, from Carnival’s Krewe des Chiens Dog Parade in Lafayette and the Krewe of Barkus in Lake Charles to springtime’s Acadiana Animal Aid’s Bark in the Park that supports lifesaving work for animals in our community.

Pets are always welcome at the weekly Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market at Moncus Park and at Lake Charles’s Charlestown Farmer’s Market on Bilbo Street behind the Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center. Both operate on Saturday mornings.

ACROSS THE REGION

Bone Appetit!

Who says only two-legged people get to enjoy a good meal out? More and more restaurants in Acadiana are welcoming pets, especially those with outdoors seating areas.

Downtown Jeaux Coffee Café in Houma serves up specialty coffees, breakfast classics and a variety of lunch menu items, not to mention several flavors of Blue Bell Ice Cream. In addition to their inside seating is an outside shaded patio that’s perfect — and welcoming — to dogs.

Pujo St. Café in downtown Lake Charles and Rikenjaks Brewing Company on Ryan both serve meals and drinks and occasional live music on their spacious, pet-friendly patios.

Lucky dogs can enjoy a Puppy Scoop of ice cream that’s topped with a Milk Bone dog biscuit when they visit Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe in downtown Lafayette. Meanwhile, parents will love the retro feel of the last retail version of the Borden’s company in the world.

Local breweries go pet-friendly with sprawling dog patios at The Yard Goat.

Paws for a Drink

Lafayette: There’s something about breweries and pets that makes for a purr-fect combination. Take the new Yard Goat in Lafayette. This German-style beer garden claims it owns the city’s largest dog-friendly patio. Visitors may enjoy a variety of foods and Louisiana and national beers and Fido gets to come along — on a leash, that is. Dog lover Ryan Pécot not only opened a brewery in the heart of Lafayette to deliver great beer and live music, but gave it a name that mirrored his advocacy for pet adoption. Adopted Dog Brewing’s oversized patio and outdoor spaces are perfect spots for a dog and a brew.

Resident cat charm at Crying Eagle Brewing Company

Lake Charles: Tom Petty lives! This Petty is a calico ginger cat who strolls the Crying Eagle Brewing-University’s restaurant, bar, brewery and patio as if he owns the place, enlisting love from customers. That is, when Tom Petty isn’t taking a snooze. The brewery welcomes dogs, and offers water bowls for the thirsty pups, but make sure they leave the local celebrity feline alone.

Arnaudville: Patio sipping at its finest may be had at Bayou Teche Brewing, a fun oasis from urban life that comes with craft brews, tiki drinks and wood-fired pizza. Well-behaved dogs on a leash, and family members of all ages for that matter (no lease required), may join in on the fun.

Betting on the Dogs

Numerous casinos are located in South Louisiana, and most are pet-friendly. Granted, you might not want to bring your four-legged friends on to the casino floors, but guest rooms will accommodate most pets with approval and certain requirements. Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder not only allows small- and medium-sized dogs in its guest rooms but has built a Lucky Paws Dog Park for dogs to romp and socialize. Lake Charles’ L’Auberge Casino Resort and Golden Nugget Lake Charles both offer ongoing entertainment, dining options and shopping within their properties but also feature pet-friendly rooms for small- and medium-sized dogs. L’Auberge offers a “Pup Perks” package for an extra fee, which includes a pet bed, two bowls, a dog treat and waste disposal bags. Golden Nugget limits dogs to up to 55 pounds and requires dog-friendly rooms to be secured in advance.

French bulldog Gumbo relaxes beside owner Marvel Guidry at Bayou Some Stuff, a retro shop filled with eclectic treasures.

Gumbo and Thrift

Bayou Some Stuff thrift shop is a throwback to the ‘60s, selling LPs and 45s, peace signs, paperback novels, quartz crystals, vintage jewelry and clothes, among so much more, inside a large building in the heart of downtown Sunset. In addition to being a self-proclaimed hippie, shop owner Marvel Guidry is also a dog lover, and she shares that love in a big way. Her first French bulldog who shared space in the thrift store was a lovable canine named Otis.

“Otis was a 25-pound French bulldog,” Guidry recalled of her first shop pup.

Otis has since left this world, but now Guidry brings in Gumbo, another French bulldog who is 3 1/2 years old and weighs 41 pounds.

Who knew the French had dogs that size?

Peek behind the counter on Thursday and Friday afternoons between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and you’ll likely find Gumbo relaxing among the retail offerings.

ACROSS THE REGION

Pamper Your Pet

It’s not a dog vs. cat world in Lafayette when it comes to pet pampering, although the species are naturally separated and for good reason. For cats to have their day at the spa, the Cat Clinic of Lafayette is a calm and quiet feline-focused veterinary care center that also offers boarding and grooming services. Not to be ignored, dogs get indulged with canine grooming at Spoiled Pet Spa & Boutique, The Dog Stop with its indoor and outdoor facility for dog daycare and boarding and Camp Bow Wow’s activity-filled daycare and boarding facility with indoor and outdoor play areas.

Doggy daycare and grooming facilities in Lake Charles include Black Bayou Boarding with its extra large enclosed and partially covered outdoor facility and a pick-up bus service and Paws on the Geaux, which has comfy rooms that are even equipped with doggy TV.