Retirees who own pets develop a special bond. Studies have shown that retirees who have pets in their life have a more active and healthier lifestyle as well as a more positive social environment. With so many benefits, it’s easy to see why active adults don’t want to part ways with their beloved pet when it’s time to move into an active adult community.
One of the first questions many retirees ask before making their move is if the active adult community is pet friendly. More builders have taken note of the increase in active adult pet owners. While many age-restricted communities have different rules when it comes to pets, retirees are sure to find the ideal 55+ community that caters to pet lovers.
Sun City Hilton Head – Bluffton, SC
High $200s – Mid $1Ms
This 8,200-home, age-restricted community by Del Webb offers world-class amenities that any retiree would love including a 45-acre Town Center and Amenity Complex. But what makes this active adult community different from the rest is the beautiful and spacious dog park.
The Sun City Dog Park is located next to the New River Sports Park where residents have softball fields and pickleball courts. Here, residents can play catch with their four-legged friend, set up doggie play dates, or enjoy scenic strolls with their furry companion on a sunny day. The dog park also has designated hours for small and large breeds, making it easy for dogs to run and play without being intimated by larger dogs.
Bonterra at Woodforest – Montgomery, TX
High $300s – High $600s
Nestled within the Woodforest master-planned community, Bonterra at Woodforest is a premier 55+ neighborhood in the Houston area. Residents enjoy private amenities as well as access to all of the master-planned community’s amenities. Active adults will find the Admiral Bark Park, located in the Woodforest section, which features vast open spaces where their four-legged companion can run freely.
Admiral Bark Park, which was named after Woodforest’s first canine resident, Admiral Paul, has designated areas for large and small dogs as well as watering stations, dog clean-up stations, and shaded areas for rest and relaxation.
Laguna Woods Village – Laguna Woods, CA
Low $200s – High $1Ms
Laguna Woods Village is the largest age-restricted community on the West Coast and has more than 12,000 homes, multiple clubhouses, 36 holes of golf, and five outdoor swimming pools. Not only does this established active adult community provide a rich line-up of indoor and outdoor amenities, but it’s also a great place for all types of pet lovers.
Laguna Woods Village is known for its popular equestrian center with stables that provide horse rentals, riding lessons, and special events. The community is also pet friendly and features various dog and cat clubs that host scheduled events, meetings, and social functions throughout the year.
SaddleBrooke – Tucson, AZ
Mid $300s – Low $1Ms
SaddleBrooke in Tucson is a pet lover’s paradise. This active adult community features world-class amenities spread throughout its complex that cater to pet owners. The DesertView Sports Club is home to plenty of outdoor recreational areas as well as a spacious dog park adjacent to the soccer fields.
Dexter’s Place Dog Park allows residents to stay active while spending quality time with their furry friends. This private facility, which is open all year from dawn to dusk, is for residents of SaddleBrooke only and is maintained by the SaddbleBrooke Dog Park Association.
Village at Deaton Creek – Hoschton, GA
Mid $300s – Mid $700s
Village at Deaton Creek is an intimate and gated 55+ community just 40 miles north of Atlanta. Residents of this 1,144-home community have a great list of resort-style amenities that include the 35,000-square-foot Club at Deaton Creek.
The grounds include a private and fenced-in dog park that allows residents and canines to run freely, get some fresh air, and exercise. This Del Webb community also hosts plenty of parks, gardens, and nature preserves that are connected by walking and biking trails, making it easy for active adults and their canine companions to get outside for leisurely strolls throughout the neighborhood.
Sun City Shadow Hills – Indio, CA
Low $400s – Low $1Ms
Del Webb’s established active adult community in the Coachella Valley is the ideal retreat for retirees and pet lovers. Sun City Shadow Hills has all the amenities active adults would want or need to lead a vibrant and active lifestyle. Multiple clubhouses and outdoor recreational facilities are sprawled across this beautiful community’s lush landscape.
Pet owners can take advantage of Sun City’s two dog parks as well as all of the open spaces and trails available in the community. In addition to the designated dog spaces, Sun City Shadow Hills also hosts events, social clubs, and special interest groups that cater to pet lovers like the pet adoption fair and pet club.
Del Webb Orlando – Davenport, FL
Mid $200s – Mid $500s
Del Webb Orlando is the active adult neighborhood within the master-planned golf course community of Ridgewood Lakes in Davenport, Florida. This gated 55+ community provides residents with resort-style living along with low-maintenance homes and incredible amenities. Besides the 30,800-square-foot clubhouse, residents have a pet park as well as numerous parks, trails, and outdoor spaces that are perfect for enjoying with their four-legged companion.
