WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A new dog park and bar in Winston-Salem is providing space for dogs and humans to be social, a concept that has become attractive during the pandemic. 

More than 23 million American households — nearly 1 in 5 nationwide — adopted a pet during the pandemic, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

That’s exactly what Gillian Charlton and her husband Calan Charlton did. They brought Leo home in January 2021 from No Goats, No Glory. Gillian Charlton has grown up with dogs and has wanted her own dog for about three years. 

“At that point, I was commuting to Greensboro every day and didn’t feel like I could adequately take care of a puppy while working 40 minutes away,” Gillian Charlton said.

Once everyone started working remotely in 2020, Calan Charlton surprised his wife on her birthday in July with the news that he had placed them on a waiting list to get Leo.

“The next few months were just excited anticipation, doing lots of research and slowly getting all the things we needed to care for a new puppy,” Gillian Charlton said.

When they got Leo, they made sure to walk him regularly, and made it a point to socialize him around other people and dogs. At their apartment complex there was a “bark park,” or a dog park, and Leo was able to socialize with other dogs.

Dog parks are an easy way to socialize dogs during the pandemic.

In North Carolina, there are about 27 dog parks. Newly-opened Tucker’s Tap Yard in Winston-Salem offers a place for dogs to run around, but it also allows dog owners to get a drink at the bar and socialize with others. 

Since the opening of Tucker’s, Leo has been going every day. 

It's a place where Leo gets to run around with the pack, which Gillian Charlton says is good because it tires him out.