County TDC to Install Beach Pet Stations

Gulf County offers something special for everyone, including pet lovers. Pet-Friendly Beaches are one of the biggest draws to our area for residents and visitors alike. Many of those individuals enjoy sharing our pristine beaches with their pets. However, it is important to remember that Gulf County has a leash law in effect that all pet owners must abide by.

Recently the Gulf County Board of County Commissioners discussed the impact of pets not under control by their owners and waste matter left behind which becomes a nuisance for others who use the beach. 

The pet law in Gulf County states that pets on leashes are welcome on the beaches of Gulf County, except within the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. Animals must remain on the leash at all times while on the beach, and owners must remove any remnants left behind by the animal. The Tourist Development Council is extending their pet friendly beaches awareness campaign.  Currently the Gulf County Tourist Development Council provides information through both its Visitor Guides and website specific to visitors and residents who chose to "beach it" with their pets.

The TDC supports the County in keeping our beaches clean and healthy for residents and visitors. In addition to informing guests to our area about the leash law, the TDC has a plan in place to expand the efforts in keeping our beaches and parks beautiful. With the placement of pet stations and informational signage along the beaches beginning this year and public accesses to motivate dog owners to pick up after their pets. These self contained pet stations will provide a very durable container for disposal of dog waste in an odorless, clean fashion while helping to "Keep our Beaches Beautiful".

Paula Ramsey Pickett, TDC Director says, "As the County addresses the ordinances relating to leash laws, we wanted to do everything possible to help.  It is our desire to equip our beach goers with the tools that they need to help keep our environment clean by providing dog owners with a simple clean up system. Education is going to be the key in keeping our beaches pet friendly.  The beaches of Gulf County are nationally known as a great place to vacation with your pets and we do not want a small percentage of irresponsible pet owners to ruin it for the rest of us.  In fact, Cape San Blas was voted the #1 Dog Friendly Beach in America (June 2006 issue, K-9 Magazine)"

These stations make it convenient to the dog owner by providing both the tool (litterbags) and the waste station for dog dirt. It eliminates the excuses for not being a responsible dog owner.