Some Jersey Shore spots becoming Fido-friendly

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP, N.J. - They say it's a dog's life - but not at the Jersey Shore, where canines are pretty much banned from frolicking on the beach all summer long.

Among the lengthy list of don'ts that greet beach visitors, "No dogs" is the command most often highlighted in red. Let Fido set one paw on the sand in places such as Atlantic City, Cape May, and Ocean City and you could be fined up to $100.

Most municipalities make it clear they aren't keen on pooches ever being on the shoreline - fearing that animal waste could foul the water and jeopardize tourism - even if many allow dogs in the off-season.

But this year, one municipality has broken from the pack.

In the Brant Beach section of Long Beach Township, officials have created what they say is the first dawn-to-dusk "dog beach" at the Jersey Shore. At Bayview Park, on the Barnegat Bay side of Long Beach Island, the controversial half-block stretch may be a sign of things to come.

In this tough economy, say township authorities, why not offer an amenity that attracts pet-friendly vacationers and pleases many locals?

A growing number of people travel with their animals - an estimated 29 million Americans, according to the U.S. Travel Association. More than 30,000 hotels and motels permit pets, the group says. The travel Web site BringFido.com says that number is twice what it was four years ago.

At the Shore, home away from home for visitors who stay at their own summer residences or rent the same bungalow or campground site year after year, four-legged tourists are now common.

"We wouldn't think of coming down here and leaving Spencer at home," said Kathy Conlin of Basking Ridge, who summers in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island.

Conlin travels everywhere with her 3-year-old Portuguese water dog. "He's part of the family," she said.

A few Shore towns have become accommodating, to a point. Stone Harbor has loosened its summer ban by allowing unleashed dogs on oceanside beaches between 80th and 83d Streets from dawn to 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to dusk, provided owners clean up after them.

In Ocean City and Barnegat Light, dog parks have been created on municipal property away from the waterfront. And leashed dogs are permitted on state parkland at Shore locations including the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area in North Cape May and Island Beach State Park near Seaside Park.

But the humble beach at Bayview Park, at 6805 Long Beach Blvd., is a summer haven for dogs.

The location, opposite the Long Beach Township municipal building, has a history of evolving to accommodate sports and other activities, said Don Myers, supervisor of the township's beach patrol, which oversees parks.

"We're seeing a need for a place for people who want to go to the beach with their dogs, and we're responding to it," he said.

People who want to loll on the beach are encouraged to keep their pets on a leash, but dogs are allowed off to romp in the water or play Frisbee and other games. Owners just need to have beach tags.

Not everyone is thrilled. A Long Beach Island newspaper continues to print letters from park regulars concerned that owners won't clean up after their dogs. They cite health and environmental hazards and the possibility that unleashed dogs will menace the many water-sports enthusiasts at Bayview, a popular launch for windsurfers and kayakers.

"If I find any dog feces in the water here, I'm personally going to scoop it up and bring it to the town council," said Mike Green of Beach Haven, a longtime windsurfer at Bayview.

Another section of the small recreational area is designated for swimming, and there is a playground, a picnic area, and a gazebo.

Green is among a group that tried to get the municipality to change its stance.

"I know the park is supposed to be here for everyone to use, but I'm not convinced that allowing dogs in the water is such a good idea," he said.

The place has been open for several weeks, and many island visitors have not yet heard about the new dog policy. Public-works crews are still installing signs and removing invasive plants to create more space.

But Carole Metcalfe of Walpole, Mass., has gotten the word.

"We're here for the summer, so of course we bring our dog. You want to have someplace that you can take your pet and allow him to run," said Metcalfe, who visited Bayview last week with Riley, her spunky year-old golden retriever mix.

"This is perfect," she said. "At home in Massachusetts, we have a big yard where she can run."

Mike Lupo, owner of Buddy's Pet Stop & Gift Shop down the island in Beach Haven, agreed.

"People come down to the Shore with their pets, and they want someplace where they can enjoy recreational opportunities with them," Lupo said. "It's really crowded here on the island, and dogs need a place where they can go and run into the water."