DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Soon, your four-legged friends will be able to soak up the sun and get their paws in the sand right here in Daytona Beach.
Starting Monday, Dec. 1, Volusia County is rolling out a brand-new dog beach area, open every day during daylight hours.
You’ll be seeing a lot of signs and also places to get doggy bags along this nearly one-and-a-half-mile stretch of Daytona Beach on as Volusia County unveils the new dog beach.
We met Abba — a firearms detection and explosives detection K9 trained on 26 different odors — and learned he also loves the beach.
“It’s the best,” said KC Cote, a Daytona Beach resident and Abba’s handler. “You can only do so much in the backyard. Coming to a different environment is super helpful because we have the distractions around. Of course, he loves to swim, so he gets his exercise and training.”
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Now, Abba and his handler have a new stretch of sand to work with — 1.7 miles between Williams Avenue and Seabreeze Boulevard — officially marked as Volusia County’s newest dog beach.
“We’re so excited. That was the biggest bummer about moving here. You couldn’t bring your dog on the beach,” Cote said.
The county modeled this area after the successful Ormond Beach Dog Zone, a partnership with Daytona Dog Beach, Inc., which became permanent this year. That pilot program saw more than 13,000 dogs and their owners take advantage of the space.
KC’s partner, Kevin Hahn, said the new spot is a game changer.
“As soon as we open the door, they pull us out the door. Then getting to add the element of the sand just improves the quality of life for them and makes it better to be a pet owner here,” he said.
Volusia County Animal Services will monitor the area to make sure dogs stay leashed, owners pick up waste, and the beach environment — including wildlife and dune vegetation — stays protected.
“As long as people don’t come here trying to start problems. Whether you’re for it or against it, just have an open mind,” Cote said. “As long as people are responsible with their dogs, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
Officials say the project cost between $8,000 and $10,000 for signage, dog waste bag dispensers and water bowls, plus about $2,500 a year to maintain the area.
[MORE: Dog beach gets fur-ever home in Ormond Beach after Volusia County Council vote]