Rules about dogs on the beach

Here they are: http://www.co.walton.fl.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3392.

You have to get a beach permit for the dog. It's pretty painless, especially if your used to the likes of government processes in cities such as Atlanta :shock:If I remember correctly, you have to have proof of updated immunizations on the dog, and something to prove you are a resident of Walton County, or own a residence there. The building is right next to South Walton High School on 331. Hmmmm, somewhere around $50.00 per dog. Hope that helps. And, congrats on moving to one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Ooh.. haha. Tip number one, don't let your dog lap up the salt water. Saline cleanses aren't just for people if you get my drift. YUCK!! And, they have to be on a leash, and poop scooped.

Welcome to the area!! The most important things to remember once you have obtained your tag for your dog to be allowed on the beach is, please carry a poop bag with you, be mindful of the hours that dogs are allowed to be on the beach, it changes with DayLight savings time, and keep your dog on its leash. I have 2 large dogs that love to swim in the Gulf and retrieve sandy wet balls. Its great exercise for them and you. We are lucky to live in a county that allows are dogs to go on the beach.

I see on the form that they are asking for proof of residency or for being a property owner. Did that change? Used to be that you had to be an owner.

Don't go on my word. It's what I thought she said at the office, but I can't be certain. We own, so she just looked up our address on the website for proof.

Don't go on my word. It's what I thought she said at the office, but I can't be certain. We own, so she just looked up our address on the website for proof.

They just look up your address on the tax assessor's page. I don't know what they do if you are a resident but not an owner.

They DO expect the current rabies vaccination documentation. BTW you can send in all of the documentation and your credit card info via email, and they'll mail you the dog tag.

Please note that dogs are supposed to be on a leash. Many people ignore this requirement. I love dogs and, except on one occasion at the Eastern Lake outflow, I have never been afraid of dogs.

But the story about the Denver news anchor scared the heck out of me. From now on me+Pepper+walking on the beach -->carrying a golf club. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TABUKagZ5mA

I walk our beach constantly, summer and winter weather permitting. I rarely see dogs leashed and on three occasions I was aggressively approached by one small Poodle and two Pit Bulls and really thought I was going to be attacked. One couple had four unleashed dogs on the beach in Seacrest including a Pit Bull. Guy saw me coming and his wife leashed the three other dogs but not the Pit Bull. Owner tried to keep the Pit Bull distracted while playing with it in the Gulf but the dog saw me coming and raced toward me. It was ready to jump on me because I saw him rock back and thank God the dog heard the owners whistle. The owner was screaming numerous times before that but the dog ignored it. My guess is that he didn't have a leash for the Pit but the owner took the dog to the beach anyway. I was shaking all over and called home and as soon as I picked up the phone they all left. No surprise there!!! I then called the Sheriff's Dept. I have every right to be on our beach any time I want and I should be able to walk it without fear. I do NOT and always walk with a portable umbrella for self defense and will be getting mace before summer gets here. I was also told I could use mace on the pet owner if they get violent too! And trust me, you make one comment about their dog being unleashed and they do get an attitude!!!!!

Oh, tsutcli, that is just terrifying! So glad you weren't bitten. And, yes, people at the beach do get hateful when I tell them as nicely as possible that their dogs need to be leashed or their children shouldn't be playing in the dunes or digging deep holes.

Now that I think about it, about 10 years ago I got bitten by a neighbor's dog while I was out for my daily run. Just to be safe, animal control quarantined the dog for I've-forgotten-how-long. I didn't mean to be a jerk, but I didn't want to risk my health.

Last week our provost and his wife were taking their daily walk with their two leashed dogs. An unleashed pit bull attacked one of the dogs. Luckily a police officer was driving by, and because they couldn't get the pit bull to stop the attack, the policeman shot the pit bull. The provost's dog almost died and was in the hospital for a week. He still has weeks of recovery ahead of him. Believe it or not, the same thing happened again Wednesday night when they were walking with their other dog. Thankfully the pit bull left and there were just minir injuries. I emailed him and suggested that they start walking with some type of protection. He agreed.

Remember when Miss Kitty was walking Molly on a leash and another dog attacked Molly? Then Miss Kitty got injured because the leash got tangled up in a bench and Miss Kitty got injured. (I think I have my facts correct.)

From now on when I'm walking with or without Pepper, I'll have mace or a golf club.

Please note that dogs are supposed to be on a leash. Many people ignore this requirement. I love dogs and, except on one occasion at the Eastern Lake outflow, I have never been afraid of dogs.

But the story about the Denver news anchor scared the heck out of me. From now on me+Pepper+walking on the beach -->carrying a golf club. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TABUKagZ5mA

There's no reason that clip should scare you. That news anchor did everything wrong that could be done around a strange dog and had no idea how to read its body language. Rule number one...never ever get into the face of an unfamiliar dog. That is a sign of aggression on your part, and the dog will react in kind.

Unfortunately, that was a horrible learning experience for the woman. The dog was just being a dog. Too many people anthropomorphize animals...dogs especially...and, then, don't understand when a dog behaves or reacts like a dog should or would.

As far as everything else goes, dogs need to be on leashes at the beach period. It's even worse when you have a dog on a leash and are approached by one off of a leash. Oddly, the safest thing to do in that situation is to let yours off so it doesn't feel restrained or at a disadvantage.

Oh and BTW, we had several Pit Bull attacks in our neighborhood by two different Pit Bull's. Both unleashed and the one Pit was responsible for three other attacks in the neighborhood but the pet owner of the Pit stepped forward and paid all the vet bills. However, the fourth time the Pit almost killed another leashed dog in our neighborhood but the other three incidents were not documented so nothing was going to be done. Owner of the attacked dog went back and got signed documentation from the other victims and got that Pit taken away finally. And, AND let me tell you both Pit Bull's were on the beach unleashed on several occasions before those attacks!!!!!!! It's an old complaint that I have stated for many, many years but our county needs to patrol that beach and at odd hours when these pet owners do not expect it. It is an accident waiting to happen down there and it will, oh yes it will. And don't let anyone fool you, we do have the funds for year round patrols that should be done several times every day!!!!!!!!!! It's just not fair to all of us who do abide by the rules and the leash law is a law in this county!!!

Why is it that most regular pit bill owners thinks their pit bull is not a killer?