Smyrna Dunes Park

What do you think about ban on dogs on the boardwalk at Smyrna Dunes Park?

No more land mines to step on.

The county commissioners might reconsider their ban if they realized the large number of dog owners and dog lovers who reside in southeast Volusia. Based on my personal observations, New Smyrna Beach is a city of responsible dog owners and people who just love dogs. Maybe the new qualification for those who run for local public office should be "must love dogs."

Kevin Connolly wrote:

What do you think about ban on dogs on the boardwalk at Smyrna Dunes Park?

While the 2 of us are dog lovers and multiple time dog owners(not presently though) we find that many times vicious looking dogs like the pit bull for example are not pulled in sufficiently on the narrow boardwalk. This would put a stress on us as we try to pass or walk around the 1 1/2 mile boardwalk. Over the years we learned to tell owners to shorten their leash hold and while some did others were annoyed at us. Well being seniors we enjoy our walks there but when stress and fear enters the equation it loses it's lure. Why should dogs rule the walk when their owners are not with it. So we were rather pleased at the county's ruling.

I love taking my dog to walk on the beach. The irresponsible dog owners are in the minority and should be fined heavily for not obeying the rules. Everyone passes through the park entrance and each dog could have a picture taken with the car license plate number. Cameras or personal reports could be used to fine owners.

Once again the irresponsible ones ruin it for everyone else. My dogs love it.

If you are ever by the St.Pete area, Fort De Soto park has an off leash dog park right on the beach. Unfortunately, Pit Bulls are allowed there and one attacked my chocolate lab and about 3 other dogs after that. And as usual the owner didn't think there was any issue and said he has never done that before.

Kevin Connolly wrote:

What do you think about ban on dogs on the boardwalk at Smyrna Dunes Park?

Sucks. But as long I they can still go to the beach and go for a swim I can deal with it.

Everytime we have walked the boardwalk we've had to step around dog poop -- one or two irresponsible dog owners spoil it for EVERYONE ELSE!
How difficult is it to carry a poop bag and clean up after the dog? 98% of the dog owners do clean up. Shesh.

Seems like it's a case of the innocent must suffer with the guilty! I've had nothing but compliments about my dogs when we have walked there!

Great. People do not clean up after their children or themselves on the beach, so why should we have to dodge all the dog droppings left behind. There are parks set up for dog lovers where the owners only have to walk in the mess and people without dogs do not have to put up with the mess and the barking that comes along with untrained pets.

Another case of the bad apples spoiling the bunch. If everyone, not just the responsible pet owners, picked up and supervised their dogs, then the ban would have never been imposed.

Lynda wrote:

The county commissioners might reconsider their ban if they realized the large number of dog owners and dog lovers who reside in southeast Volusia. Based on my personal observations, New Smyrna Beach is a city of responsible dog owners and people who just love dogs. Maybe the new qualification for those who run for local public office should be "must love dogs."

Its not about loving or liking dogs. I love them. Its about walking by and getting snipped at or barked at constantly. The walkway is for people, not dogs.

I agree 100%,

Lynda wrote:

The county commissioners might reconsider their ban if they realized the large number of dog owners and dog lovers who reside in southeast Volusia. Based on my personal observations, New Smyrna Beach is a city of responsible dog owners and people who just love dogs. Maybe the new qualification for those who run for local public office should be "must love dogs."

Kevin Connolly wrote:

What do you think about ban on dogs on the boardwalk at Smyrna Dunes Park?

I just came back from Smyrna Dunes Dog Beach and am so very, very sad that the one beach that has been designated as a dog beach in Central Florida has now been destroyed. I was ok, no thrilled but ok with not walking on the boardwalk but to take away most of the beach was just uncalled for. I love to run on this beach with my dogs and we drive an hour in each direction just to get there and enjoy the beauty of the ocean and large sandy beach. Yes, I have seen irresponsible owners with their dogs off leash and I'm sure some people ignore the poop but those people are the minority and the rest of us, the ones who respect the rules and the comfort of other beachgoers shouldn't be punished because of the rulebreakers. I think the solution is to raise the fines to $1000 for the first offense and a period of being banned from the park and each additional offense should increase the banned time and the cost substantially. This should discourage rule breakers from breaking the rules. Perhaps cars with dogs should have to pay a larger entrance fee as well. This would certainly encourage people to follow the rules when they visit and allow the rest of us to still enjoy our beautiful beach.

I live in N Y State and visit New Smyrna Beach in the summer. I am thinking of moving there. When I found Smyrna Dune Park and saw all the dogs I was so excited and have been telling everyone about the fact that people are allowed to bring their dogs there to swim with them. I envisioned myself and my dogs enjoying the beach there together. I have never seen poop on the boardwalk. It disturbs me greatly that some people do not respect dogs enough to clean up after their own so that they can continue to enjoy this beautiful park with their dogs. I agree with others that fines and cameras or whatever it takes to catch the irresponsible ones be used so that the responsible owners and their wonderful pets can continue to enjoy the park. Everyone that I saw during my visits appeared responsible regarding their pets. It saddens me greatly that the privilege has been taken away from so many by the few irresponsible ones.