Dogs have their day in Rehoboth Beach

Dogs who visit Rehoboth Beach could soon have two more months to stroll the boards and enjoy the beach. Town officials are considering relaxing strict prohibitions on dogs that banish them from the Boardwalk and beach from April 1 to Oct. 31, or half the year.

Rehoboth's restrictions go beyond the rules of other nearby beach towns, which generally prohibit dogs on the beach a few weeks before and after the Memorial Day to Labor Day summer season.

At the same time, dog owners are encouraged to visit Rehoboth through events such as Greyhounds Reach the Beach and the costumed pet parade during October’s Sea Witch Festival. Visitors, and even some residents, inaccurately assume that when restrictions are lifted for those events, they remain suspended until the following summer.

That thinking is also supported by common experience, because Rehoboth’s summer police officers are not on the job in April or October to enforce the rules. Once a few dogs start romping on the beach without drawing a ticket, dog owners are happy to join the celebration; at that point it becomes tricky to enforce the law, because angry pet owners who get tickets will say they’ve seen lots of other dogs on the beach.

It makes sense to allow dogs on the beach except during prime beach season; Dewey Beach demonstrates it’s even possible to allow dogs on the beach during the season if the rules about cleaning up after them are strictly enforced. In Dewey, cleanup bags are provided, which promotes and encourages compliance, consideration and cooperation.

The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association reported in a 2009-2010 survey that nearly 4 of 10 American households include at least one dog.

That’s a lot of dogs, and a lot of visitors who own dogs, most of them people who control their pets and clean up properly after them.

It makes sense to restrict dogs from the beach only when the beach is crowded, and there are enough officers on patrol to enforce the policy. Dogs are part of today's families, and Rehoboth should welcome them.