Although it’s November, now is the perfect time of the year for you and your pet to enjoy some fun in the sun.
A recent announcement by Pet Super Store reported that during the off-season, many major beaches allow dogs—even leash free. They provided a list, which was extensive, but it entailed long drives and overnight stays.
Some state parks, however, offer many of the same benefits with much less travel time. Mosquito Lake State Park in Cortland recently built a dog park that includes a beach.
Jackie King, account clerk for the park, said the park includes five acres of off-leash, dog friendly area that is free and open to the public. The dogs are confined to the area by a split wood and mesh fence, and small dogs are separated from large dogs.
The private dog beach is also free, and can hold up to about 50 pets and their owners. People from the tri-county area, Cleveland and Pennsylvania have brought their pets to the park, she said.
“They really seem to be enjoying it.” King said. “A lot of people are coming from residential areas and they can never let their dogs run free…I think the beach is a big draw.”
Technically, Mosquito Lake has the only dog beach in the area, but other local state parks allow pets on the sand during the off-season. Pete Houghton, park manager for Pymatuning State Park in Jamestown, Pa., said the park itself is pet-friendly.
Houghton said that during the swimming season, state law prohibits pets on the beachfront. During this time, pets are invited to stand with their owners along the wood line—on a leash, of course.
During the off-season, however, is a whole different story. Houghton said that as long as the pet owners are responsible and abide by the leash law, they would not be told to leave the sandy area of a beach.
“Through the winter and things, as long as [pet owners] clean up after themselves, and even right now, you should not be concerned or be removed from the beach front with your pet if you have them,” Houghton said.
If you do want to make the journey to the East Coast, here is Pet Super Store’s top 10 list of dog-friendly beaches:
- Brigantine Beach, NJ
- Montauk Point State Park, NY
- Block Island, RI
- Ocean City Beach, MD
- Seabrook Beach, NH
- Hither Hills State Park, NY
- Carson Beach, MA
- East Beach, RI
- Down’s Park Dog Beach, MD
- Town of Bethany Beach, DE
