Is Volusia County going to the dogs?
What simply occurred has actually offered a brand-new significance to the dog days of summer season.
To the pleasure of individuals who desire their canine buddies with them on oceanside getaways, and to the discouragement of those who oppose sharing the sandy coast with animals coming from others, the County Council July 11 voted to reserve a 3rd stretch of beach for pleasure by dogs and their owners.
“We’re going to make history in Volusia County,” Council Member Troy Kent informed the audience.
That audience consisted mainly of individuals excited with the concept of taking their dogs — whom they think about part of their family — with them onto the beach.
After having actually gone over the problem and having actually spoken with the general public on the ask for another dog beach, the council accepted a pilot program crafted by the county administration to develop a 3rd part of the beach for individuals and their dogs to take pleasure in. The next dog-friendly beach remains in Ormond Beach, roughly 0.6 miles in between Rockefeller Drive and Milsap Road.
MONEY TALKS — A personal group promoting for dogs to be permitted on Volusia County’s beaches, Daytona Dog Beach Inc., shows a symbolic look for $8,574 to cover a few of the costs of developing and policing a brand-new dog beach park in Ormond Beach. From left are Nanette Petrella, president of the group; Abigail Flug and her mom, Paula Flug. Each of the females spoke prior to the County Council. The older Flug is vice president of Daytona Dog Beach Inc.
Opening this part of the beach has the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which keeps track of threatened and secured types, such as sea turtles, and works to protect their environment.
“That is a transitional area where beach driving is permitted, and we did finally receive on April 24th confirmation from the Wildlife Service that that would not require any amendments to our permit,” Deputy County Manager Suzanne Konchan said.
The allow describes the federal firm’s permission for beach driving where turtle nests are considered not to be at threat from automobiles. Beach driving has actually been restricted given that 1995, following a federal court choice mandating the defense of sea-turtle nesting locations.
This stretch of the beach will be open for dogs and their human owners, efficient Nov. 1, after completion of turtle-nesting season. The pilot program will extend up until May 1, 2025, and the County Council might then choose whether to make the beach completely open for dogs. At this time, the county has 2 other stretches of the beach where dogs are permitted, and those are Lighthouse Point Park and Smyrna Dunes Park.
Under the pilot program, certified and rabies-vaccinated dogs will be permitted on the Ormond Beach area just if their owners keep them on a 6-foot leash and keep them far from dunes and turtle-nesting locations, in addition to keeping them far from other beachgoers, dogs and birds. The beach will be open for dogs every day in between dawn and sundown. Not least, dog owners should tidy up any waste left by their animals. The county might station an animal-control officer on the dog beach to make sure compliance with the park guidelines.
Much if not all of the first-year cost of putting an animal-control officer at the Ormond Beach park might be covered by a $100,000 contribution from the Lohman family, who have actually been ardent supporters for the dog beach.
“Pets are good for our health, and we’re supposed to be helping everyone live better here in Daytona Beach,” Nancy Lohman informed the County Council. “I’m not going to the beach because I can’t bring Snowball and Snowflake [her pets].”
Others spoke out in assistance of four-footed buddies.
“Some of my fondest memories growing up were with my dogs on the beach,” Jo Stevens said. “Give us a chance.”
With her mom at her side, Abigail Flug attracted the council to let dogs onto the extra part of the beach.
“My mom is vice president of Daytona Dog Beach,” Abigail informed the council. “I feel safer and happier when I have my dog on the beach.”
Former County Council Member and now School Board Member Carl Persil provided his assistance for another dog-friendly beach.
“As Martin Luther King once said, ‘It’s always the right time to do the right thing,’” he said.
“Today is the day to turn a not-yet vote into a yes vote,” Daytona Dog Beach Inc. President Nanette Petrella advised.
Not everybody favored the Ormond dog beach. Judith Stein, who said she lives close by the website, said she was “a voice in the wilderness.”
“Turning this stretch of the beach into a dog bathroom means families will not want to lay their blankets down,” she said.
“Never once have I seen anyone pick up their dog’s waste. Not one time,” Laura Rutledge said.
Rutledge said she has actually resided on the beach for 34 years.
A strong bulk of the County Council preferred developing the Ormond dog beach.
“I want dogs on the beach,” Council Member Jake Johansson said.
“I’m going to support it,” Vice Chair Danny Robins said.
County Chair Jeff Brower explained the pilot program for the dog beach as “a very responsible approach,” that uses to “1 percent of 47 miles of beach.”
“We’ve taken a lot of the fun out of the beach because of safety,” he said, including the county federal government is “a republic,” in which “we lift up the individual.”
“Let’s let people have a little bit of their liberty back,” Brower continued. “There are more birds on our beach than there are people.”
Council Member Don Dempsey would not support the bulk.
“As much as I like dogs, I don’t know if they belong on the beach,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be properly enforced. … It may open us up to a lawsuit.”
On the roll-call choose the dog-beach pilot program, Dempsey was the only dissenter.
