Let's make the beaches of Volusia County accessible to dogs!

According to pet ownership statistics, 53% of the population owns one or more dogs, that is roughly 250-300 thousand dog owners in our county.  The coast of Volusia County is a total length of 45 miles, yet we are restricted to using only 9 miles of pet friendly beaches, which are primarily located in New Smyrna Beach. This means that dog owners who live in Port Orange, Daytona, Ormond Beach, and The Shores, have to drive more than 30 minutes to have access to the New Smyrna Dog Beach. The Ponce Inlet dog beach is less than a mile long, which is quickly overcrowded when the weather is nice or during high tide. Being restricted to only two dog friendly beaches creates overcrowding, which can quickly become stressful for dog owners who are looking to relax peacefully with their dog. 

Having access to a pet friendly beach along the entire coast of Volusia County is a great opportunity for pet owners to enjoy long beach days with their dogs, without having to choose between Ponce Inlet or New Smyrna Beach. Increasing the length of a dog friendly beach would allow dogs and owners to have a significant increase in space, without the disturbance of other dogs. For those who have daily walks on the beach, this is a great opportunity to bring your dog with you so that you may both benefit from daily exercise. By continuing to respect pick up and leash laws of Volusia County, there is no reason to deny access to dogs on our beaches. 

Summer is quickly approaching, so let's fight to give our dogs access to our beaches. If you would like to make the entire coast of Volusia County pet friendly, please sign this petition!