DogPolicies MCP server

A free MCP server that lets an AI assistant answer dog-rule questions for California and Nevada, with the official source and the date checked on every answer.

It covers 2,669 parks, beaches, trails, hotels, campgrounds, cabin resorts and restaurant patios, and 11,523 rules. Version 0.2.6, free, no key, no account.

Install

Pick the first one that fits; they all give the same server.

1. Claude (claude.ai or Claude Desktop): nothing to install

Settings, Connectors, Add custom connector. Name it DogPolicies, paste https://dogpolicies.com/mcp/, add it, then turn it on in the chat's tools menu. No Node.js, no file editing.

2. Claude Desktop: one-click extension

Download dogpolicies-mcp-0.2.6.mcpb from the latest release and open it (double-click, or Settings, Extensions, Install Extension). The data is inside.

3. One command, any client

npx dogpolicies-mcp install                    # Claude Desktop
npx dogpolicies-mcp install --client cursor    # or vscode | windsurf | claude-code
npx dogpolicies-mcp install --dry-run          # preview only

It finds the client's config file, creates it or themcpServers key if missing, merges one entry without touching other settings, backs the file up first, refuses a file it cannot parse, and prints the restart step. On Windows it writes the form that works. Needs Node.js 20.19 or newer.

4. One-click buttons (hosted server)

Add to Cursor Install in VS Code

Both add the hosted server; the app asks you to confirm.

5. Claude Code

claude mcp add dogpolicies -- npx -y dogpolicies-mcp
claude mcp add --transport http dogpolicies https://dogpolicies.com/mcp/

On Windows: claude mcp add dogpolicies -- cmd /c npx -y dogpolicies-mcp

6. By hand

Claude Desktop: Settings, Developer, Edit Config. If the file has no mcpServers key yet, add one (macOS and Linux):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dogpolicies": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "dogpolicies-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Windows (the client cannot start npx directly):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dogpolicies": {
      "command": "cmd",
      "args": [
        "/c",
        "npx",
        "-y",
        "dogpolicies-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Then fully quit Claude Desktop (right-click the tray icon, Quit, on Windows; Cmd+Q on macOS) and reopen it. Cursor uses the same block in ~/.cursor/mcp.json; VS Code in ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json or .vscode/mcp.json:

{
  "servers": {
    "dogpolicies": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "dogpolicies-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

If it does not show up

Restart properly. Claude Desktop must be fully quit from the tray (Windows) or the Claude menu (macOS); closing the window leaves it running. Cursor: toggle the server in Settings, MCP. VS Code: MCP: List Servers, Start.
Check the server itself: npx dogpolicies-mcp check calls every tool; npx dogpolicies-mcp demo prints a real answer.
Logs: Claude Desktop %APPDATA%\Claude\logs\mcp.log (Windows) or ~/Library/Logs/Claude/ (macOS); Cursor: Output panel, MCP Logs; VS Code: MCP: List Servers, Show Output; Claude Code: claude mcp list.
"spawn npx ENOENT" on Windows: use cmd /c npx as above, or the hosted connector.
Node.js 20.19 or newer is needed for npx; the hosted connector and the extension need none.
Behind a corporate proxy, npx must reach npm once (set HTTPS_PROXY); the extension and the hosted connector avoid npm. The server works offline; DOGPOLICIES_OFFLINE=1 stops its one background data check.

The 13 tools

Tool	What it does
`dogpolicies_search_places`	Search places by name, type, county, region or distance
`dogpolicies_near`	Everything dog-related near a town, county or point
`dogpolicies_get_place`	One place in full: every fact, source, quote and date
`dogpolicies_compare_places`	Two to six places side by side
`dogpolicies_plan_trip`	Where to stay, play and eat in a town with this dog
`dogpolicies_find_hotels`	Hotels that take a specific dog, with the fee math
`dogpolicies_get_brand_policy`	A hotel chain's pet policy and its exceptions
`dogpolicies_browse_answers`	Ready-made answers to common questions
`dogpolicies_route_stops`	Dog stops along a highway, in driving order
`dogpolicies_get_rule`	One rule by its stable id
`dogpolicies_changes_since`	Rule changes and re-checks since a date
`dogpolicies_changes_near`	The same, near a town or point
`dogpolicies_report_correction`	File a correction for a person to verify (the only tool that writes)

Every result starts with a citation sentence and carries a confidence level and a freshness label, so an assistant can say "confirm with the hotel" or "not stated". Every tool except the correction tool only reads.

An example

Question to the assistant: can my 70 lb dog stay at a hotel in or near "Monterey", and what will it cost for 2 nights? The server returns this (real output of npx dogpolicies-mcp demo "Monterey", trimmed):

# 3 match, 14 possible, 1 excluded (70 lb dog, 2 nights)

- Red Roof Inn & Suites Monterey (Monterey, CA): Yes, under the Red Roof Inn brand policy: up to 2 pets per room, more with approval; up to 80 lb each; first pet stays free. Source: Red Roof, checked 2026-10-26. Brand policy, not yet confirmed by this hotel. DogPolicies record: https://dogpolicies.com/places/red-roof-inn-and-suites-monterey/
  Pet fee: No pet fee
- Cypress Inn (Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA): Yes, in every room: up to 3 pets per room; no weight limit; $40 per night. Source: Cypress Inn, checked 2026-10-31. DogPolicies record: https://dogpolicies.com/places/cypress-inn-carmel/
  Pet fee: $80 for 2 nights
- Portola Hotel & Spa (Monterey, CA): Yes: up to 2 pets per room; no weight limit; $50 per room per night. Source: Portola Hotel & Spa, checked 2026-10-26. DogPolicies record: https://dogpolicies.com/places/portola-hotel-and-spa/
  Pet fee: $100 for 2 nights

[more results trimmed]

DogPolicies, dogpolicies.com, CC BY 4.0, verified 2026-10-31
Brand-policy hotels have not yet confirmed their own policy; suggest calling the hotel.

Privacy

No API key, no account and no telemetry. The local package keeps its data on your machine, works offline and makes one conditional request for a newer data file when it starts. Tool arguments are never logged. The only thing sent to us on purpose is a correction you ask your assistant to file.

License

The code is MIT. The data is CC BY 4.0: credit "DogPolicies" with a link, which the last line of every result already does. Service animals are governed by the ADA, not these pet rules. See the terms.