SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. – Walking your dog on the beach is one of those simple summer pleasures, but in some coastal Delaware towns and cities, it’s not as easy as grabbing a leash and heading for the sand.
In places like Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and Dewey Beach, seasonal rules restrict when or even if dogs are allowed on the beach. And not all pet owners are thrilled about it.
Let’s start in Lewes. From 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., dogs aren’t allowed on the beach at all, and when they are allowed, they’ve got to stay leashed.
Rehoboth Beach has even stricter rules: dogs aren’t allowed on the beach or boardwalk at any time during the summer season. That rule stays in place through September 30 in Rehoboth Beach and Lewes.
Zoe Elzey, who was out walking her dog in Rehoboth, says the lack of beach access creates real safety concerns.
“It’s kind of awful because we don’t really have sidewalks down these roads,” she said. “It puts owners in a complicated position. Also, most of our dogs — like my dog — are super friendly.”
Zoe Elzey, who was out walking her dog in Rehoboth, says the lack of beach access creates real safety concerns.
“It’s kind of awful because we don’t really have sidewalks down these roads,” she said. “It puts owners in a complicated position. Also, most of our dogs — like my dog — are super friendly.”
Dewey Beach, just a little farther south, takes a more dog-friendly approach. There, dogs are welcome on the beach before 9:30 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m. — giving early risers and evening walkers a chance to enjoy the shoreline with their pups.
Greg Gonzalez runs Jungle Jim’s Total Pet Care in Dewey, and he thinks other towns could take a page from Dewey’s playbook. “We think Rehoboth should kind of learn from us. We obviously love dogs here — and honestly, they should be allowed on the Rehoboth boardwalk too.”
Greg Gonzalez runs Jungle Jim’s Total Pet Care in Dewey, and he thinks other towns could take a page from Dewey’s playbook.
“We love the fact that Dewey is a dog town,” he said. “We think Rehoboth should kind of learn from us. We obviously love dogs here — and honestly, they should be allowed on the Rehoboth boardwalk too.”
For now, the rules remain in place until after Labor Day in Dewey.
So if you’re heading to the beach with your furry friend this summer, be sure to check the local rules — or you might end up walking the streets instead of the shoreline.
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