Officials Weigh More Limits for Dogs on Beach
Citing health concerns over dog defecation and other problems, Huntington Beach officials are considering whether to close or limit access to one of only two dog beaches in Orange County.
The city scheduled a public hearing March 10 to discuss the problem and commissioned a study to determine whether the dog droppings and urine pose a health and safety risk to humans.
Officials are most worried about children who play in the sand.
“I don’t want to see it close,” said Jim Engle, Huntington Beach community services director. “But we can’t have a situation that’s unhealthy for our general public.”
Dog owners are rallying to keep the beach open. They have organized volunteer cleanup efforts and raised money for professional crews to maintain the beach.
City officials said the beach is cleaner than it was a year ago, but that problems still exist. Unlike other dog parks that are fenced off, the city’s dog beach has no barriers.
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