Dogs and the Island

We have several homes which allow dogs for a fee. Dogs should always be on leash and voice command. They need to be leashed on or near the ferry on both the IOP side and the island. There are cleats on both sides for you to tie your dog when preparing luggage for getting on and off the ferry. Something about being leashed on the ferry and the new environment brings out the protector in your dog– be sure you have them under control. Please do not allow your dog on the ferry seats or to roam around the boat. In summer, the top deck gets very hot on paws.

If you get to the ferry dock early, there is a grass strip on the IOP side towards the marina where you can walk your dog– scoop bags are available on the strip.

Please clean up after your dog. On the island, you can bury waste at least 5 inches deep or use a bag.

The ONLY place your dog should be off a leash on the beach is between Osprey Walk and Ancient Dunes walk. In addition, please consider keeping your leashed dog away from the shorebird nesting areas once the sun is up. Shorebirds have a much bigger alarm zone for dogs, and may fly off eggs or nestlings, leaving them to bake in the sun. If you want to walk your dog the whole length of the beach, please do it out of the heat of the day.

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