KURE BEACH — For many pet owners dogs are more than just a four-legged roommate — they’re part of the family. But those hoping to bring their pooch to play in the ocean at Kure Beach are out of luck since the town forbids dogs on the beach for half the year.
But one local online group is hoping to change that.
A Facebook group, the Carolina Beach & Kure Beach Community, proposed a meeting with the Kure Beach Town Council to allow dogs on the beach before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. – much like the current rules for Carolina Beach.
The organizer of the group posed the question, “Would you like to walk your dog on the beach? Would you sign a petition allowing dogs on Kure Beach before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.?”
The post so far has gained momentum with more than 100 comments and more than a dozen shares. While there are lots of comments, not all of them are simple yes or no answers and some are responses to previous comments, but overall, the majority of the people voiced their support for dogs on the beach.
Roughly 30 comments are in favor of allowing dogs on the beach during off hours year-round, while approximately 15 commenters were opposed.
The most frequently cited complaint for not allowing dogs on the beach is one that stems from sanitation issues and pet waste. But the organizer of the group has proposed increasing the fines for not cleaning up after a pet to such an extreme amount that it would hopefully encourage owners to clean up after pets.
This is not the first time the issue has come up, last year prior to the November elections, Town Council candidates weighed in on the topic.
Sanitation concerns were the main reason for supporting the current regulations, and only candidate Jerry Dockery was in support of changing the rules to allow dogs on the beach.
But neighboring community Carolina Beach, as well as Fort Fisher, allow dogs on the beach during the summer months.
The Town Council as well as Mayor Craig Bloszinsky did not respond for comment at the time of publication.
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