Seaside Heights Beach, Boardwalk to Become More Dog Friendly

Dogs on the Seaside Heights boardwalk during National Dog Day, Aug. 26, 2015. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Seaside Heights officials on Wednesday introduced an ordinance that will open up the boardwalk and borough beaches to man’s best friend.

The pair of ordinances modify the beach and animal codes for the borough to allow dogs – on leashes – to be taken onto the boardwalk and the beachfront between Oct. 1 and the Sunday before Palm Sunday each year.

“The mayor and council were talking about it in the fall,” said Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz. “Our ordinance doesn’t specifically say you can or can’t have dogs on the beach and boardwalk in the off-season.”

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While dogs were not expressly allowed on the boardwalk or beach after the tourist rush ended, many people were under the idea that pets were welcome and brought them anyway.

“It’s basically legalizing something that has already been going on,” Vaz said.

The borough has been trying to be more welcoming to dogs in recent years. This season the town will revive its Dog Day celebration where dogs are allowed on the boardwalk and beach one day during the summer. The event was introduced in 2015 but canceled in 2016 after a person who owns the trademark “National Dog Day” threatened legal action if they event went through.