We, the undersigned residents and supporters of Bozeman, Montana, hereby petition the Bozeman City Commission to recognize the attached "Bozeman For Dogs" flag as an official flag of the City of Bozeman. This flag features the original official flag of Bozeman background with illustrations of diverse dogs and the text: "BOZEMAN, THE CITY WHERE EVERYONE AND THEIR DOG HAS A DOG" and "Unity Through Diversity! All dogs (and cats) are welcome here!"
By adopting the LGBTQ+ Pride flag as an official flag of Bozeman on July 16, 2025, the City Commissioners have established that Bozeman may have multiple official flags, and not all must represent the entire community. Montana House Bill 819 defines a "flag" as "any physical or digital material designed for display on a flagpole, building, wall, vehicle, or other structure. Flags typically serve as symbols of identity, allegiance, recognition, commemoration, or advocacy, representing nations, states, political movements, or social causes."
For many years, Bozeman has enjoyed a strong reputation as one of the most dog-friendly cities in the nation, once ranked No. 2 by Dog Fancy Magazine. However, recent demographic changes and a minority of irresponsible dog owners have contributed to increased hostility toward dogs, including more off-leash incidents, attacks, and prohibitions in historically dog-friendly spaces.
To restore Bozeman's dog-friendly atmosphere and promote unity through diversity, we request that the "Bozeman For Dogs" flag be designated an official flag of Bozeman and displayed on all public properties where other official flags (This request does not apply to locations where only the original Bozeman city flag is displayed to represent Bozeman) are flown. . We also understand and support the desire of cat lovers to add a "Bozeman For Cats" flag to the list of official flags, fostering inclusivity for all pet owners and their pets.
This recognition will reaffirm Bozeman's commitment to its pet-loving heritage and enhance community harmony.
