Dogs, owners, might get a break in Southern Shores
Dogs, and their owners, might get a break if the Southern Shores Town Council decides to try opening the beach for limited hours during the summer months.
The council received a petition asking that dogs be allowed on the beach in the summer between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. as long as they are under control. Dogs now are prohibited on the beach in Southern Shores from May 15 to Sept. 15.
Plenty of discussion went into the proposal at the council’s meeting Monday night. Council members generally agreed that they would prefer an earlier time in the mornings — 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. — and requiring leashes.
They were ready to vote Monday.
“I’m all for giving it a try for the next month or so and see what happens,” said Councilman George Kowalski.
But Town Attorney Ben Gallop advised them to get specific wording written down first.
The council cancelled its August mid-month meeting, so the earliest it could consider the change would be at its Sept. 7 meeting, leaving only a week to try it out this year.
At least one council member didn’t like the idea.
“I don’t think we should change it,” said Councilman Jim Pfizenmayer.
Here’s how other towns regulate dogs on the beach during the tourist season:
Kitty Hawk — Between the Friday before Memorial Day and the Day after Labor Day, dogs have to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Kill Devil Hills — Between May 15 and Sept. 15, no dogs are allowed on the beach from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Nags Head — Dogs are allowed on the beach at all times as long as they are on a leash.
Duck — Dogs are allowed on the beach year round as long as they are under control.
See what people are saying:
Join the discussion:
Tony says:
Finally! It appears that 3 and perhaps 4 council members are listening to the residents of S.S. This has been proposed by citizens a few times over the past 5 years and ignored each time. Residents must now be responsible -leash, clean up and respect the time
Current laws says:
The current laws are perfect. This comes from a guy who was bitten by a “controlled dog” on a Southern Shores beach last summer.
Right now, no dogs, lots of people, ie. in the summer, we protect our children from uncontrolled, aggressive tourist dogs.
Ask any officer or lifeguard about all the incidents between dogs and small kids on beaches where the less-trained, less-responsible animals inevitably run wild. It’s a mess down there.
The mayor even promised me he’d keep the law the same, I have the e-mail he sent before the election.
Mike says:
It was no more than 6 years ago that our beaches here were almost covered in dog poop.
We had to write and call dozens of times just to get the police to help enforce the current laws.
Now we want to go back to that?
The dog owners are not responsible here. Many are older. Once the tourist dogs are down there too, it will be filthy once again.
Maybe the town is also paying for those plastic bags? And paying for all the new signs too? And educating our older, lazier dog owners about cleaning the poo up so children don’t have to dig in it in the sand?
Chicahauk says:
“Tony says, Residents must now be responsible – leash, clean up and respect the time.”
Ha! They don’t respect it now!
They are always down there burying their poop and pushing the law every chance they get. Early morning, every night . . .
Just ask Mike, the beach patrol guy. You can’t trust them to be responsible at all. They are the worst examples for visiting tourists we could possibly get.
Local Resident says:
I love that it is being considered to open the beaches to dog owners prior to 10am and after 6pm. No responsible person would take their dog to the beach on a day that is packed to begin with. The sand is too hot, the weather too hot and too many people! You take them before the heat of the day begins to enjoy a little sand and water and get them home so they don’t get dehydrated or suffer burnt pads.
I continue to be amazed that the ‘I have been bit by a dog’ person continues to comment. There is always someone who brings this up. There are tons of things in life that throw everyone curve balls. Car accidents, accidents at home, paper cuts, smashing fingers, etc. If the police who patrol the beach and the lifeguards who are there communicate to each other and they issue a few citations that have a fee imposed to tourists who don’t obey, the message will get out. There are plenty of parking tickets given out during the summer to tourists, so collect a little more income if you must. I am sure the ones who are usually irresponsible are not walking their dogs prior to 10am or after 6pm, so they won’t be taking advantage of the change.
I am happy to see that we finally have a Mayor who is willing to listen to the residents of Southern Shores!
Current laws says:
Local Resident, you just don’t get it. A dog attack, especially on a child, is not a curve ball, it is preventable. That is so cold to say that. Have you seen one? And the mayor happens to agree the law is the way it should be right now.
We have it in our power to continue to prevent this:
Dog-Child attacks: http://tiny.cc/777zk
Please check with other PDs and lifeguards about all the incidents on beaches where the dogs are “controlled.” These tragedies happen, a lot, and our job is protect our kids.
Local Resident says:
Current law – As you point out, the mayor is one person, the council is many and is responsible to consider all options and represent the community, not only ‘their’ beliefs.
I do believe we are talking about more than just ‘children’ in this situation. To narrow the focus to just one item is not broadening the topic. As for the ‘and our job is protect our kids’ reference, it is your job as a parent to teach them, iIt is not my job to teach your child. I understand there are irresponsible folks out there everywhere but we don’t ban them from having kids so why would we ban the responsible folks from walking their dogs on the same beach those same irresponsible people take their uncontrolled children too as well? (Please understand, I am in no way attacking you, but just creating discussion on an open forum, it is some times hard to communicate items in just short comments)
Current laws says:
You are right Local, it is YOUR job to train your dog and to keep it on a leash. However, you know that many of you do not do that.
Prior to my injuries last summer, and the medical treatment…My oldest daughter has been “attacked” twice, once on the beach, and once in our own yard. Both of these times, they were local dogs. The first time, I had to tackle the dog before it could reach her and was so angry at the woman I almost knocked her teeth out. The second, she was lucky to get inside as the dog outweighed her by 60 lbs. The police were also called in this case . . .
When will you prove that you are good dog owners?
Southern Shores Resident says:
I teach my children to be wary of dogs because many are very dangerous. Their owners are sometimes not rational when it comes to their animals. I was bitten by a dog a few years ago while on the job and the owner of the dog swore that “her dog doesnt bite” even after it bit me and drew blood.
This morning in Southern Shores I watched a visitor with 3 dogs, all unleashed and one of which appeared to be a boxer, harrass everyone who walked by.
Allowing dogs at any time in the summer is a step in the wrong direction. Dog owners cant even live by the simple rules we have now–if these rules are relaxed there will be leashless dogs running on the beach all day long.