It seems like every beach you go to these days (and yes, we try to hit the beach as much as possible) has a ban against dogs. Unfortunately, it’s a case of “a few bad apples”. Some irresponsible dog owners bring their pets to the beach, don’t mind them properly and don’t pick up after them. We think that’s a shame.

Our dogs LOVE the beach! We can’t get our dog, Scout, out of the water, even in early Spring and late Fall. Fortunately, we know of a few beaches that don’t ban dogs. They don’t have a huge sign welcoming dogs (have you ever seen one that did?) but they don’t ban them, either. So, our dogs hit the beach for lunch-time getaways, and we always seem to have as much fun as they do!

The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a big story several days ago about a service that allows beach goers to bring their pets with them. It’s a doggie daycare for beach goers. This is a great idea for folks in areas where dogs aren’t allowed at the beach. Here is the info on the Bayshore Kennel, as printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“Bayshore Kennel is the only boarding facility where you can drop your dog off for the day while you enjoy the local beaches,” said Cheryl Alessandrine, president and founder of Beacon Animal Rescue. “We are all volunteers and love working with the dogs and plan to set up a fun-filled day for all our guests.”

A day at the kennel - and the backyard beach - is expected to cost $15 to $20 per pet. Bayshore also will give pets indoor respite from the sun in 30 individual concrete “runs” that allow dogs to rest or eat indoors or out. In another indoor area, cats can be boarded for the day in individual cubicles.

Dog parks are popping up everywhere in the US as dog ownership continues to rise. Unfortunately, shoreline areas don’t seem to be as welcoming to pets. We hope that park districts and local governments will recognize this, and make more shoreline space available to responsible dogs and their people.