Troy Kent at new dog-friendly beach in Ormond Beach
Paws can now hit sand from sunrise to sunset. But there are rules.
Dogs now have a permanent spot to frolic on Volusia County’s coastline.
Volusia County councilmen voted 5-0 to make the dog-friendly section of Ormond Beach permanent. District 1 Councilman Don Dempsey and At-Large Representative Jake Johansson weren’t there for the vote. The county launched the dog beach pilot program on Nov. 1, 2023, between Milsap Road and Rockefeller Drive.
District 4 Councilman and Ormond Beach resident Troy Kent has championed the effort to allow dogs on the beach.
“I truly believe we have made our community better by doing something like this, and with all of the nonsense going on in this world, there’s something about providing a wholesome experience for our community members,” Kent said.
Officials said the pilot program was a success. No bites were reported, and law enforcement did not give out any citations in the dog beach section.
And it proved to be very popular. Officials noted 12,883 dog sightings in the section, which is about 35 dogs a day.
The rules on the dog beach will remain the same. People will need to clean up after their dogs, ensure dogs are secured on a leash that’s no longer than 6 feet, provide proof of rabies vaccination if asked and keep dogs from harassing or harming wildlife or disturbing dunes.
Several people spoke during public comment on Tuesday, all in support of making the dog beach permanent. It was clear the County Council would support the item, so some people waived their speaking time and just signaled from the audience that they were in support ― while holding up a photo of their dog.
“I will yield my time, but Snowflake and I say thank you,” said Nancy Lohman, who donated $100,000 to help the pilot program launch along with her husband.
Kent thanked the Lohmans for their support and Daytona Dog Beach Inc. for providing volunteers to clean up the beach and educate visitors, among other support. The nonprofit has committed to continuing to provide help.
Councilmen also expressed a willingness to explore adding other dog-friendly sections of beach.
“We’ll see what the future holds,” County Council Chairman Jeff Brower said.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
