Jersey Beach Bans Dogs On The Shores

A beach in Jersey has announced a ban on dogs on its shores at least for a certain number of hours. The dog beach will now join the list of beaches that do not welcome man’s four-legged friends.

The “Dog Beach” or the Fisherman’s Cove in Manasquan, New Jersey will no longer welcome dogs between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. by the start of Memorial Day, Brick Shorebeat reports. This announcement was made on May 15 due to the number of people with no dogs accessing the site since the promenade expansion.

Activities such as bird watching, fishing, and kayaking resulted in influx of people using the beach and most of them don’t have dogs tagging along. The Jersey dog ban was issued to “avoid conflict,” according to a statement released by the Borough of Manasquan.

Banning dogs on the beach attracted several opposing groups who aired out their disappointment through social media, highlighting that the beach is, by nature, a place where dogs should always be welcome. State senator Joe Vitale also expressed his disapproval and thought the ban was "ridiculous."

“It’s a dog beach. The majority of the visitors utilize the beach for their dogs to swim, exercise or hang out,” he said in the Brick Shorebeat report. According to him, coexisting was “just fine” even with those people who don’t own dogs.

Brittany North, one of the local residents, said the decision made her sad. She expressed that the place is not only an area where locals hang out, but is also the perfect spot for family quality time, which include dogs. “Lack of dog-friendly areas is such a disappointment,” she said.

There are also those who agreed with the beach ban stating that the beach should also be a safe place for kids who will enjoy a day out in the shore without feeling scared of unleashed dogs.

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