A recent study revealed that a significant number of female dog owners are uneasy about walking their pets in the dark during winter due to safety concerns. The research found that 61% of women reduce their dog-walking activities in winter, citing worries about poorly lit areas and the lack of safe walking paths. Additionally, 54% expressed fears of encountering drunk or antisocial behavior while out with their dogs.
The study showed that female dog owners are cutting down on their dogs’ daily walks by up to 30 minutes, resulting in a loss of nearly 3.5 hours of exercise per week. Safety apprehensions are particularly high in Greater London, where 78% of women have felt unsafe during nighttime walks. Other areas of concern include Belfast (76%), Brighton (70%), Wales (69%), and the South East (64%).
To address these safety issues, YuMOVE, the leading joint supplement brand in the UK, organized the inaugural ‘NightWalkies’ event in Bury St Edmunds. The event, hosted by YuMOVE CEO Fiona Hope and WalkSafe, aims to empower women to walk their dogs safely at night.
Fiona Hope emphasized the importance of NightWalkies in encouraging women to feel secure while ensuring their dogs receive sufficient exercise. The initiative seeks to promote community walks that enhance safety for women and their pets. With 74% of women expressing interest in similar organized events during darker evenings, YuMOVE plans to launch walks nationwide.
The NightWalkies campaign strives to foster community engagement and promote the health and well-being of dogs during the winter months. By participating in these walks, women can create a supportive network while keeping their dogs active and content.
To make NightWalkies accessible to all women, YuMOVE has developed a downloadable NightWalkies Toolkit in collaboration with WalkSafe. The toolkit is available on the YuMOVE website for easy access and implementation.