Dewey Dog Day set for Sept. 13
Dewey Beach will celebrate four-legged friends Saturday, Sept. 13, with an inaugural Dewey Dog Day, honoring the town’s long-standing tradition of dogs on the beach.
“Dewey Beach has always been known as a dog lover’s paradise, and Dewey Dog Day is a way to celebrate our community’s love for dogs while supporting local businesses, and connecting neighbors and visitors,” said Town Clerk Kate Banaszak.
The dog-friendly event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on the Van Dyke Avenue beach, will feature local vendors and giveaways with prizes from local businesses. Attendees can also browse Dewey Beach merchandise and purchase discounted commemorative lifetime Dewey Beach dog licenses.
Unlike some of the neighboring towns, Dewey allows dogs on its beaches year-round, with some seasonal restrictions.
From the first Monday after Labor Day through the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, dogs are permitted on the beach any time from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. During the rest of the year, from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through the first Sunday after Labor Day, dogs are permitted on the beach before 9:30 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m.
The town has been “off the leash” since 1981 – dogs are allowed off-leash during the off-season, as long as they remain under their owner’s control.
Town-issued dog licenses are required for all dogs in Dewey Beach. This is in addition to any state license or rabies tag they already have.
Temporary and lifetime dog licenses can be purchased online at townofdeweybeach.gov/purchaseadoglicense or in person at the town hall. Temporary licenses can also be purchased at the automated kiosk at the town hall parking lot entrance.
Ellen McIntyre is a reporter covering education and all things Dewey Beach. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State - Schreyer Honors College in May 2024, then completed an internship writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2023, she covered the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand as a freelancer for the Associated Press and saw her work published by outlets including The Washington Post and Fox Sports. Her variety of reporting experience covers crime and courts, investigations, politics and the arts. As a Hockessin, Delaware native, Ellen is happy to be back in her home state, though she enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. She also loves live music, reading, hiking and spending time in nature.
