Will be travelling to the area of Ft. Myers/Naples. Is my well-behaved pooch allowed on the beaches? How about Key Largo? (planning a day trip there). Thanks!

Each town/beach will have its own rules.

Any ideas on how to find this out ahead of travel time?

Try calling each Citys Chamber or the beach(es) themselves.

Thanks - will do!

To the best of my knowledge dogs are not allowed on the beach unless you are a permanent resident and obtain a special permit. Then they are only allowed on the beach during certain hours.

As A permanant resident and not a "snowbird" I would like to say just one thing......KEEP YOUR DOG OFFOUR BEACHES!!!

I feel the same way. No offense to dog lovers but we've got enough "crap" on our beaches as it is (!) Thanks, John.

Thanks for the warm replies; can't wait to visit such friendly people!

What beach in Key Largo are you planning on visiting?

Jen, ignore the bad comments. Call the City and find out the info on your own. John and Meg are not the majority.

XXX, let's take a poll. I'd bet that John and Meg ARE in the majority (although that majority is NEVER as vocal as the pet owners). I throw in my hat with them (and just in case they can't catch very well, I'd prefer it to land on a CLEAN beach).

I love dogs, I really really do. But unless you have your own private beach, dogs just don't belong there. You have to understand that and not take it personally. People let their dogs poop on the beach and don't clean it up, they let their dogs off the leash and they knock over drinks, food, and spray sand. They get into fights, bark at people and seabirds, scare people and even bite them sometimes. The make doggie love and embarass mom and the kids. It's hard enough to keep people under control but when you add animals to the equation its an impossible situation. I hope you can understand this because I say it with best intentions and with all the love in the world for animals and dogs in particular.

What if an owner picks up after his/her dog ? Regarding the other 'problem', what if a dog is sterilized ? And what if a dog is on a leash ? Would you let one in onto one of your beaches ?

Why does everyone have well-behaved dogs and well-behaved kids? Who owns/is responsible for all those that are otherwise? I have never met anyone who thinks their kid is a brat or who admits their dog is vicious. People don't seem to be very good judges of their own behavior, much less that of their children or pets. So while setting strict rules for dog behavior would be fine, since people don't follow rules for people, why would you think dogs would? Rude dog owners around here like to walk their dogs on school playing fields and not clean up the mess, so why do you think people would clean up on a beach. At least on a playing field you would be wearing shoes when you stepping in dog cr-p. So sorry, I hope no beaches allow dogs.

To "Dog"...alas, it is always the "good" people who pay for the behavior of the bad. What community would have the time or money to individually screen each dog and their owner?

Dogs and beaches were made for each other -- there is no portrait of joy that is more perfect than a dog racing down a beach, playing with waves, chasing a frisbee.

I hate the owners that don't clean up after their dogs just as much as all those crabby people who posted anti-dog posts above -- probably more, because they ruin it for the responsible dog owners.

But I have one last question for the anti-dog people: Do you expect the sea-gulls, terns, crabs, clams, or the wild ponies on NC beaches to wear diapers?

This is to everyone who is against dogs at the beach. How about the filthy people who smoke who leave cigarette butts in the sand. Do you think that's sanitary? No matter how many times a machine goes by to pick them up, I always see them. Why can't people bring an ashtray or cup to the beach. Dirty filthy pigs.

Jen:

Unlike the Northeast beach town, summer in Florida is the off-season so maybe you'll have some

To Marlon and Steph,
Paws up to you!

To all of the dog haters,
I hope my buddies leave something in your yard

Where do we stand on a) rednecks (or whomever) who work up a big hocker and then spits it on to the beach;
b) people who smoke and leave the cig. butts on the beach;
c) people who change their precious babies' diaper on the beach, in plain view. Not to mention those who have actually LEFT the dirty diaper on the beach; and
d) those people who really, really shouldn't be wearing revealing bathing suits but do. Hmmmm? Any answers? Are the beachs just for the super-tidy, super-thin, super-arrogant people.