Pet-Friendly Senior Living in Wichita
Whether retirement, family ties or ruby slippers bring you to Kansas, Wichita has a lot to offer seniors and their pets. The city boasts more than 260 sunny days per year, a lower-than-average cost of living, below-average rent and home prices, and plenty of activities for you and your little (or big) dog, too.
Pet-friendly senior communities in Wichita
Wichita is home to a more than a dozen independent and assisted living communities that welcome residents with pets. Among them is Sedgwick Plaza, which won a SeniorAdvisor.com Best of Assisted Living 2015 award, based on resident and family member reviews. Sedgwick Plaza is located on the city’s near northeast side, close to Chisholm Creek Park. Another Best of Assisted Living 2015 award winner, The Regent, is also on the pet-friendly list. Located slightly farther east than Sedgwick Plaza, The Regent is also near Chisholm Creek Park.
Public and private dog parks around town
Wichita has 4 popular dog parks. Two are run by the city: Chapin Dog Park, on Wichita’s south side, and Meridian Dog Park, on the northwest side. Chapin’s off-leash area contains kiddie pools during warm weather for canine cool-offs, plenty of shade platforms, and cleanup supplies. It’s part of a 90-acre park with a wide gravel walking trail and an area where model-plane hobbyists fly their remote-controlled toys. Meridian’s dog zone is divided into 3 areas, one for large dogs, one for small, and one empty to give the grass time to recover. Features include people and pet water fountains, seating areas, cleanup gear, and room to roam. Admission to both parks is free.
Another free dog park is located on the Murfin Animal Care Campus next to the Kansas Humane Society at Highway 96 and Hillside Street on the city’s north side. Grassy play spaces for large and small dogs, trees, and seating make it a comfortable destination for dogs and people.
A couple of miles north of the Murfin Dog Park, near the suburb of Park City, is the Chisholm Creek Pet Resort Pup Park. Pup Park membership isn’t free—a 3-month pass for an owner and up to 2 dogs costs $150 plus tax, while an annual membership is $295 plus tax. For that fee, member dogs get the run of 10 acres of fenced play space, which includes a pond for swimming and agility equipment for challenges and practice. Membership discounts are available for boarding clients.
Dog-centric sporting and (yes!) cultural events
The Wichita Kennel Club holds regular classes for dogs and owners, along with monthly meetings that feature dogs from the community. The club’s annual spring show, the Sunflower Cluster of Dog Shows, includes 4 days of American Kennel Club all-breed shows. Spectators can enjoy herding, lure coursing, agility, and rally obedience trials along with barn hunts and puppy matches. In tandem with the Sunflower Cluster, there’s an annual Art Show at the Dog Show, a juried canine art competition featuring the work of artists from around the country, all vying for the opportunity to have their work bought and donated to the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog in St. Louis.
With an active community of dog lovers and many options for pet-inclusive living, there’s no place like home in Wichita.
Learn more about Wichita Senior Living here:
Wichita Low-Income Senior Housing
How Much Does Wichita Assisted Living Cost?
How Much Do Wichita Nursing Homes Cost?
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