ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Bringing pets to one of the beaches in Volusia County may soon come to an end.
A pilot program for a dog beach in Ormond Beach is set to finish next week, and the county council will decide whether to continue the initiative.
The dog beach, which stretches just over half a mile, has been a popular destination for visitors from Ormond Beach and across Central Florida during its trial period. According to the county, more than 12,800 dogs have been documented visiting the beach.
“There’s a huge, unmet demand for people to be able to take our dogs to the beaches,” said Nanette McKeel, of Daytona Dog Beach, Inc.
McKeel and her organization pushed for years for the creation of a dog-friendly area.
“There are numerous health advantages for both people and their pets. We have received feedback from individuals who previously never visited the beach, but now do so,” stated McKeel.
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But what has happened over the past 18 months could influence the county council’s decision.
Recent data provided by the county indicates that out of the 12,000+ dog visitors, there have been no reports of bites or aggressive behaviors. Nonetheless, there have been 326 incidents of dogs being off-leash and 15 cases where owners neglected to clean up after their animals.
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The initial cost to establish the dog beach and run it during the pilot was approximately $123,000.
David Schecter, a part-time resident near the dog beach who also spends time in Georgia, has started a petition to end the program. He believes there has not been enough enforcement from the county regarding owners not adhering to the rules, particularly those who allow their dogs to roam outside the designated beach area.
“Their lack of support for the areas for the residents, hotels and visitors walking on either end of the zone is concerning. When you ask them point-blank what they’re doing about those areas, they don’t have an answer,” Schecter said.
The county council is scheduled to vote on the future of the dog beach at their meeting next Tuesday, April 1.
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