SOUTHERN MARYLAND, Md. —In Southern Maryland, pets are part of the family, so it only makes sense to include them in the fun.
Whether you are looking for a patio where your dog can relax beside you, a sweet stop offering pup cups, a beach or park to explore, or a local rescue where you can meet your next best friend, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties offer plenty of options.
This guide brings together pet-friendly restaurants, treats, outdoor destinations, training and boarding services, cat cafes, shelters and adoption organizations across the tri-county area. Keep it handy the next time you are planning a day out with your four-legged companion.
Presented By Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa
This guide is presented by Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa, a family-owned resort where pets are treated like family. Services include dog and cat boarding, doggie daycare, professional grooming, dog training, luxury deluxe cabins, and accommodations for rabbits, birds and other small pets.
The owners live just 40 feet from the main kennel building, allowing for close, hands-on care throughout each pet’s stay. Owned and operated by a certified professional dog trainer, Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa helps every guest feel safe and at home. Learn more at chessiepets.com.
Pup Cups And Treats
A pup cup — a small cup of plain whipped cream, vanilla soft-serve or custard served free or at low cost — has become shorthand for a dog-friendly stop in its own right.
- Noli's Italian Cucina, Leonardtown, Md. — pup cup with any order
- Wee Bean Coffee Roasters, 6580 Crain Highway, La Plata — a local craft coffee bar and roastery that's pet-friendly, offering both dog treats and pup cups
- Cone Island Ice Cream Shop, 14441 Solomons Island Road South, Solomons — listed among Calvert County's pet-friendly treat vendors
- Hidden Harbour, 14755 Dowell Road, Dowell, Md. — pup cups offered per the restaurant's own social media, alongside its waterfront patio dining
- Social Coffeehouse & Cocktail Bar, 41655 Fenwick St., Leonardtown, Md. — pup cups and treat bags offered, alongside a dog-friendly outdoor seating area
- Bruster's Real Ice Cream — free sundae topped with crumbled dog bones for dogs
- Rita's — pup cups offered d.
- Dairy Queen, Lexington Park, Md. — pup cups of vanilla ice cream available upon request
- Starbucks — the "Puppuccino," a small cup of plain whipped cream, is a well-documented, if unofficial, menu item nationwide.
- Panera Bread — widely reported to offer a free small cup of whipped cream for dogs on request, though it's not an official printed menu item.
- Chick-fil-A — many locations offer a free dog treat or small cup of Icedream
- Sonic Drive-In — Sonic's "Wag Cup," a small serving of whipped cream or vanilla soft serve, is offered free with a purchase at many locations.
- Dunkin' — offers a "Cup for Pup," a small cup of plain whipped cream, at many locations; it's typically free, though some stores accept a donation instead.
Dog Training, Grooming And Boarding
Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa
26120 Jones Wharf Road, Hollywood | 301-373-3400 | chessiepets.com
Dog and Cat Boarding | Doggie Daycare | Grooming | Training | Luxury Cabins
Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa offers personalized care in clean, climate-controlled accommodations. Cats stay in a private, dog-free cattery, while other small pets are welcomed with the same attention and comfort. The family-owned resort is operated by a certified professional dog trainer, and the owners live about 40 feet from the main kennel building.
Indian Bridge Kennels & Suites Inc.
21325 Indian Bridge Road, California | 301-994-0094 | indianbridgekennels.com
Dog Boarding | Doggie Daycare | Professional Grooming
Indian Bridge Kennels & Suites offers climate-controlled boarding suites with radiant floor heating, supervised outdoor play areas and personalized stay options. Dogs can enjoy daycare, grooming and customizable boarding packages with extra walks, playtime, treats and toys. The facility serves pet owners throughout Southern Maryland, including Leonardtown, Lexington Park, Solomons and surrounding communities.
Bone-A-Fied Friends Forever (BFF) Pet Services
4611 Wilkerson Road, Brandywine | 30155 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall
301-861-6714 | mybffpetservices.com
Puppy training | Basic & advanced obedience | Private lessons | AKC sports | Dog tricks | Power Sprinting Fun Runs | Pet Photography & Videography
Bone-A-Fied Friends Forever (BFF) Pet Services helps dogs and owners build lifelong skills through positive, reward-based training. With locations serving Charles and St. Mary's counties, BFF offers everything from puppy classes and private lessons to agility, canine sports, Power Sprinting Fun Runs and online learning experiences for dogs of all ages.
Dees Mutts Dog Grooming
2896 Old Washington Road, Waldorf
Bathing | Haircuts | Ear Cleaning | Nail Trimming | Cage-Free Grooming
Dees Mutts Dog Grooming offers grooming with more than 25 years of experience. Services include bathing, haircuts, ear cleaning and nail trimming, with a focus on giving dogs a calmer, more comfortable grooming experience
Patio-Friendly Dining
Policies can change without notice, so it's always worth calling ahead to confirm a spot still welcomes dogs on the patio before you go. This list is growing all the time — we're adding new places as we find them.
Calvert County
The Lighthouse Restaurant and Dockbar, 14636 Solomons Island Rd S, Solomons, MD 20688
Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill, 13200 Dowell Road, Solomons, MD 20688
Vaughan Cheese Counter & Bar, 4116 7th Street, North Beach, MD 20714
Three Brothers Italian Restaurant, 65 Sherry Ln., Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Unauthorized Brewing, 9132 Bay Ave., Unit C, North Beach, MD 20714
Gordy's, 135 W Dares Beach Rd, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Hidden Harbour, 14755 Dowell Road, Dowell, MD 20629
Charles County
The Charles, 417 Charles St., La Plata, MD 20646
Foster's Grille — 6390 Crain Hwy #105, La Plata, MD 20646; 2975 Shasho Pl., Waldorf, MD 20603
Panera Bread — 3 Shining Willow Way, La Plata, MD 20646
The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille, 6 St. Mary's Ave., La Plata, MD 20646
TGI Fridays, 2990 Waldorf Market Pl., Waldorf, MD 20603
Wee Bean Coffee Roasters, 6580 Crain Highway, La Plata, MD 20646
St. Mary's County
Brudergarten (Brü), 22725 Duke St., Leonardtown, MD 20650
The Front Porch, 22770 Washington St., Leonardtown, MD 20650
Olde Town Pub, 22785 Washington St., Leonardtown, MD 20650
Noli's Italian Cucina, 26005 Point Lookout Rd, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Stoney's Clarke's Landing, 24580 Clarkes Landing Ln, Hollywood, MD 20636
Taphouse 1637, 23418 Three Notch Road, California, MD 20619
Bollywood Masala, 23418 Three Notch Rd, California, MD 20619
Pier450, 48342 Wynne Rd, Ridge, MD 20680
The Slice House, 22745 Washington St., Leonardtown, MD 20650
Social Coffeehouse & Cocktail Bar, 41655 Fenwick St., Leonardtown, MD 20650
Dog Beaches, Trails and Parks
Calvert County
Dunkirk District Park Dog Park, 10750 Southern Maryland Blvd., Dunkirk — a fenced dog park inside Dunkirk District Park, one of northern Calvert County's larger recreational parks, which also offers playgrounds, courts, sports fields and picnic areas. Hours vary by season.
Grays Road Dog Park, 2695 Grays Road, Prince Frederick — a fenced, off-leash area with plenty of grassy space for dogs to run and socialize; restroom facilities are available, and the park is open year-round from daylight to dusk.
Cove Point Park Dog Park, 750 Cove Point Road, Lusby — a designated off-leash area inside Cove Point Park giving southern Calvert County pet owners a place to play, alongside the larger park's other recreation.
Calvert Cliffs State Park, Lusby — draws local dog walkers to its beach at the end of the Red Trail, a shaded 1.8-mile route through the woods to a natural stretch of Chesapeake Bay shoreline. Calvert County also operates fenced off-leash dog parks at Grays Road in Prince Frederick and Dunkirk District Park, both requiring dogs to be current on vaccinations and licensed.
Point Lookout State Park Pet Beach, 11175 Point Lookout Road, Scotland — offers a sandy pet-friendly beach area where dogs can enjoy the waterfront with their owners. Pets are allowed in most day-use areas, but are prohibited from the park’s main swimming beach from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Calvert County allows a maximum of three dogs per handler in its dog parks. Dogs must be healthy, vaccinated, licensed and wearing identification, and puppies younger than 4 months are not permitted. Dogs must remain leashed while entering and leaving the fenced areas.
Charles County
Turkey Hill Dog Park, 9430 Turkey Hill Road, La Plata — an enclosed dog park inside Turkey Hill Park, which also includes trails, an 18-hole disc golf course, picnic pavilions and other recreational areas.
White Plains Dog Park, 1015 St. Charles Parkway, White Plains — a fenced off-leash option inside White Plains Regional Park, which includes a playground, skate park, and tennis and pickleball courts; drinking water is available at the dog park except during winter months.
Indian Head Boardwalk — officially the Indian Head Riverwatch Upland and Riverwalk, 165 Riverwatch Drive, Indian Head — a scenic, roughly half-mile walking path that your leashed friend will enjoy with you. It combines a 1,200-foot upland nature walk through wooded, town-owned property with a 1,200-foot riverwalk along the Potomac River shoreline; bald eagles nest overhead, and benches are placed along the way. Fishing is not permitted from the boardwalk.
Tilghman Lake Park, 10598 Box Elder Road, La Plata — a free, easy one-mile loop trail around a scenic lake, with leashed dogs welcome; the paved path connects to Laurel Springs Park for a longer walk, and passes a picnic pavilion, fishing dock and exercise stations along the way.
Smallwood State Park, 2750 Sweden Point Road, Marbury — leashed dogs are welcome on the trails around the day-use areas and in the campground, though not inside park buildings or cabins; entry runs $6 per vehicle. The 628-acre park sits on Mattawoman Creek and includes the restored home of Gen. William Smallwood, a Revolutionary War hero and Maryland's fourth governor.
A new dog park is planned for the future La Plata Farm Park, a roughly 2.5-acre fenced space, though it was not yet listed as an operating county facility as of the county's March 31, 2026, project update.
St. Mary's County
Fifth District Park Dog Park, 37880 New Market Turner Road, Mechanicsville — a fenced dog park with separate areas for small and large dogs, along with accessible features, seating, shade and play equipment, inside a 78-acre park that also offers trails, a playground, sports facilities and a picnic pavilion.
Seventh District Park Dog Park, 23035 Colton Point Road, Bushwood — separate fenced areas for large and small dogs, each with a pavilion, table and play features; the large-dog side includes hurdles, hoop jumps, a platform climb and a crawl feature. Double-gated entrances help owners safely transition dogs on and off leash.
Dorsey Park Dog Park, 24275 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown — a designated off-leash space inside the 79-acre Judge P.H. Dorsey Memorial Park, with easy access to walking trails, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, courts and public restrooms.
John G. Lancaster Park Dog Park, 21550 Willows Road, Lexington Park — a fenced off-leash area inside the 100-acre recreational complex, with recent accessibility improvements; the surrounding park includes a playground, picnic areas, sports facilities and restrooms.
Newtowne Neck State Park, Leonardtown — an all-around pet-friendly state park with walking trails and dog bowls placed throughout; dogs must stay leashed except in the designated dog swimming area, and are not allowed in buildings or on playgrounds.
Elm's Beach, Lexington Park — a dog-friendly county park in the southernmost part of the county, known for its views and crabbing, with dogs required to stay leashed outside the designated dog swimming area. Entry runs $8 per vehicle for residents and $30 per vehicle for nonresidents.
Kyle E. Rambo Nature Trail, NAS Patuxent River — a Navy MWR trail offering five leash-required loops of varying length and difficulty, from the flat 2.75-mile Goldfinch Loop and 0.65-mile Oriole Loop to the hillier Bluebird, Vireo and Cardinal loops. Owners are asked to pick up after their dogs, and to check for ticks after visiting in warmer months.
Worth The Drive
Beverly Triton Beach Park, Mayo, Anne Arundel County — pairs five miles of walking trails with a designated dog beach; leashes are required throughout the park, including in the water.
Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County — remains one of the only fenced, off-leash beaches built specifically for dogs in Maryland. Parking at Lot N leads to a half-mile walk to the beach; entry runs $8 per vehicle, with annual passes available at $40 for residents and $50 for non-residents. Owners should bring their own fresh water, since none is available near the beach itself.
Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, Dahlgren, Va. — over The Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas "Mac" Middleton Bridgee from Charles County, this shaded, 15-mile rail-trail welcomes leashed dogs for walking, jogging and biking along a former railroad corridor; limited parking is available near Indiantown Road.
Pet Perks, Services & Pawsibilities
Lee Funeral Homes Pet Cremation Services
800 Jennifer Lane, Owings | 6633 Old Alexandria Ferry Road, Clinton
301-855-0888 | 301-868-0900 | leefuneralhomes.com
Individual Pet Cremation | Transportation | Urns & Keepsakes | Paw Prints | Memorial Options
Lee Funeral Homes offers compassionate pet cremation and memorial services for families saying goodbye to a beloved companion. The funeral home provides two pet drop-off centers, transportation from veterinarians, pet hospitals, or homes throughout Southern Maryland, along with individualized cremation, urn options, paw-print keepsakes and other personalized remembrance items.
Calvert County Lost and Found Pets — county reporting page for lost and found animals.
St. Mary's County Lost and Found, 41770 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown, Maryland — (301) 475-4200
Charles County Animal Care Center — Report a Lost or Found Animal, 200 Baltimore Street, La Plata, Maryland — (301) 645-0550
Tractor Supply PetVet Clinics — Several Southern Maryland Tractor Supply stores host PetVet clinics offering convenient routine veterinary services without a traditional veterinarian appointment. Tractor Supply currently lists PetVet clinics at its White Plains, Charlotte Hall, Huntingtown and Hollywood locations. Services and clinic dates can vary, so readers should check the individual store schedule before heading out.
Petco Love Lost — free photo-matching database that searches shelter, rescue and individual found-pet reports statewide
Tractor Supply Pet Wash, locations in White Plains at 10795 Wawa Lane and Charlotte Hall at 37662 Mount Wolf Road — offers self-service Pet Wash Stations with professional-grade bathing equipment and products for less than $10, with no appointment needed.
Friendship Pet Memorial Park, 3221 Mattawoman-Beantown Road, Waldorf — offers in-ground pet burial and cremation services in a peaceful, tree-lined setting, along with pet caskets, urns, memorials and pre-planning options for families.
Horseback Riding Trails
Calvert County
Kings Landing Park, 3255 Kings Landing Road, Huntingtown — offers an equestrian ring and riding trails at no cost; a permit is required before bringing a horse onto the trails.
Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm, 2695 Grays Road, Prince Frederick — offers public equestrian trails at no cost for riders looking to explore the property on horseback; a free permit is required.
Calvert Cliffs State Park, Lusby —10540 H.G. Trueman Road, Lusby — allows horseback riding on the park's service road, giving equestrians a limited but scenic riding option within the state park.
Charles County
Oak Ridge Park, 13675 Oaks Road, Hughesville — more than seven miles of marked, interconnecting equestrian trails, from level, novice-friendly Orange and Green trails to Red, Yellow and Blue trails with creek crossings and moderate inclines. A $25 annual membership is required to ride; hikers and birders may use the trails free of charge.
Maxwell Hall Park Equestrian Area, 6680 Maxwell Hall Drive, Hughesville — one of three Charles County parks where horseback riding is permitted.
Friendship Farm Park, 4705 Friendship Landing Road, Nanjemoy — allows horses on portions of the trail from April through November, winding through natural land along Nanjemoy Creek.
St. Mary's County
St. Mary's River State Park, 21250 Camp Cosoma Road, Leonardtown — a 7.5-mile trail circling St. Mary's Lake is open for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking.
Greenwell State Park, 25420 Rosedale Manor Lane, Hollywood — 10 miles of marked, multi-use trails along the Patuxent River open year-round to hikers and horseback riders; parking runs $3 for Maryland residents and $5 for out-of-state visitors. The park is managed jointly with the nonprofit Greenwell Foundation, which also offers recreational and therapeutic riding lessons for the public.
Adoption And Rescue (All Animals)
For readers looking to add a pet to their family, the list below highlights shelters and rescue groups across Southern Maryland. Each county in this guide is home to more than one organization helping animals find safe, permanent homes.
Calvert County
Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter, 5055 Hallowing Point Road, Prince Frederick, Maryland — the county's official shelter, and the first stop for lost pets and new adopters alike.
Humane Society of Calvert County, 2210 Dalrymple Road, Sunderland, Maryland — a no-kill shelter with an adoption fee of roughly $400 that covers spay/neuter, vaccines and a microchip before a pet ever goes home.
Calvert Animal Welfare League, 1040 Prince Frederick Blvd., Prince Frederick, Maryland — an all-volunteer rescue running mostly out of foster homes, with adoption hours Saturdays 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Friends of Felines, P.O. Box 325, Port Republic, Maryland — a cat-only rescue built around trap-neuter-return, working to give the county's feral colonies a fighting chance.
Just One More Dachshund Rescue — a wiener-dog-specific rescue proving that if one dachshund is good, one more is better.
Mabel's Orphaned Angels Rescue (MOAR) — a Calvert-based dog and cat rescue named for its very first rescue. Founded in October 2016, Mabel's Orphaned Angels Rescue (MOAR) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization & no-kill rescue based in Southern Maryland.
PAWS (Patuxent Animal Welfare Society) — 2240 Solomons Island Rd., Huntingtown — animal rescue, adoption and education nonprofit
Pets with Disabilities, 635 Clay Hammond Road, Prince Frederick, Maryland — matches wheelchair-bound, blind, deaf and otherwise special-needs pets with owners ready for the extra love they need.
PuppyPaws Rescue, Huntingtown — Puppy Paws Rescue is a nonprofit, foster-based rescue founded in 2013 that helps abandoned puppies and dogs find permanent homes. The organization rescues dogs from high-kill shelters in the eastern United States and places them with foster families throughout Maryland and Northern Virginia until they are adopted.
The SPOT Southern Maryland Spay & Neuter, 4860 St. Leonard Road, St. Leonard — a nonprofit organization working to reduce pet overpopulation through low-cost spay and neuter assistance. The SPOT offers spay and neuter grants for Calvert County residents and operates a thrift shop whose proceeds help fund low- and no-cost procedures for companion animals.
Charles County
Humane Society of Charles County, 71 Industrial Park Drive, Waldorf — general shelter and adoption services for the tri-county area
Charles County Animal Care Center,9375 Chesapeake St., Suite #123, La Plata— county shelter; adoption hours 11 a.m.–4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturdays; also offers free working cats for barns and warehouses
Last Chance Animal Rescue, 8500 Bensville Road, Waldorf, — pulls animals from high-kill shelters and offers basic veterinary care alongside adoption.
Feline Felons Cat Cafe, 24 Industrial Park Drive, Suite 1, Waldorf — partners with the Charles County Animal Care Center to house adoptable cats and kittens in a relaxed cafe-style setting. Open Sunday through Thursday and Saturday.
St. Mary's County
St. Mary's County Animal Adoption & Resource Center, 22975 FDR Blvd., Lexington Park— handles animal control and adoption; closed Mondays and Thursdays
St. Mary's Animal Welfare League (SMAWL) — operates the Cat Castle Rescue Center at Callaway Village Shopping Center, open Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; adoptable dogs by appointment.
Feral Cat Rescue, Inc. — trap-neuter-release and adoption program; holds weekly adoption events at the Petco in California, Sundays 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m., and partners with Meow Dyer Cat Cafe in Leonardtown.
Meow Dyer Cat Cafe, 41665 Fenwick St., Suite 13, Leonardtown — partners with Feral Cat Rescue Inc. and gives visitors a chance to meet adoptable cats in a lounge setting while supporting local rescue efforts.
Regional
Rescue Angels of Southern Maryland — a foster-based nonprofit animal rescue that has been helping dogs and cats since 2013. The organization focuses on rescuing animals in need, placing them in safe foster homes and finding permanent adoptive families, while also supporting spay and neuter efforts, continued veterinary care and lost pet recovery through certified trappers and trackers.
Southern Maryland Guinea Pig Rescue — a nonprofit rescue founded in 2023 that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes guinea pigs while promoting responsible ownership and proper care. The volunteer-run organization works to place guinea pigs in loving homes throughout Southern Maryland and beyond.
Pet-Friendly Stores
Beyond Petco and PetSmart, several other national chains with Southern Maryland locations also welcome leashed dogs, including TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Dick’s Sporting Goods and The Home Depot. Pet policies can vary by location or manager, so it is still a good idea to call ahead before bringing your dog inside.
Fenwick St Books, 41665 #17 Fenwick St., Leonardtown — this cozy used bookshop, tucked into what was once Duke's Bar in historic downtown Leonardtown, welcomes leashed pets while owners browse its more than 27,000 books, vinyl records and games.
Sneade's Ace Home Center — locations in Owings and Lusby, Maryland (Calvert County) and Charlotte Hall and Leonardtown, Maryland (St. Mary's County) — this locally owned Ace Hardware affiliate regularly shows off dog-friendly customers on its own social media.
Hobby Lobby — well-behaved dogs on a leash are a common sight in the aisles, and the chain has a longstanding reputation as one of the more dog-friendly big-box retailers around.
Lowe's — Lowe's official pet policy allows well-behaved, leashed or carried pets in stores nationwide.
Tractor Supply Co — Tractor Supply's official pet policy, leashed dogs and other calm, contained pets are welcome at every Tractor Supply store nationwide, with no store-by-store variation — the only chain on this list with a written, consistent policy rather than manager's discretion. They welcome a variety of animals, including cats, rabbits and even farm animals ranging from pigs to llamas, as long as they are leashed and under control.
Harbor Freight, 3286C Crain Highway, Waldorf — bring your pup along for the power tools! Harbor Freight's own customer support page confirms leashed, well-behaved pets are welcome alongside service animals.
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