Nearly two-thirds of female dog owners express fear about walking their dogs at night during winter due to concerns about personal safety. A recent study revealed that 61% of women reduce their dog-walking activities in winter, citing worries about poorly lit streets, lack of safe walking paths, and the potential for drunk or anti-social behavior. Research by YuMOVE, the UK’s leading vet-recommended joint supplement brand, shows that dogs are getting up to 30 minutes less walking per day, totaling a loss of nearly 3.5 hours of exercise per week.
Safety apprehensions are particularly high in Greater London, where 78% of women have anxiety about night walks. Following closely are cities like Belfast (76%), Brighton (70%), Wales (69%), and the South East (64%). To address these concerns, YuMOVE CEO Fiona Hope and WalkSafe organized the inaugural ‘NightWalkies’ event in Bury St Edmunds, aiming to empower women to walk their dogs safely at night.
Hope emphasized the importance of NightWalkies in bridging the gender gap in dog walking, encouraging women to participate in organized community walks for both their safety and their dogs’ well-being. A significant 74% of women surveyed expressed interest in similar events during darker evenings, prompting YuMOVE to launch organized walks nationwide.
To facilitate NightWalkies participation, YuMOVE has developed a downloadable NightWalkies Toolkit in collaboration with the safety app WalkSafe, accessible via the YuMOVE website. The initiative aims to create a supportive community where women can enjoy winter walks with their dogs, ensuring their pets’ health and happiness through regular exercise.