Dog friendly???

which island?

stxonmymind probably means STX. 😉

hahaha, i usually dont even look at the name

I think most beaches are fine for dogs. I often see dogs romping around at Rainbow Beach and no one seems to mind.

I live on STT so can only give you my perspective.
There really are no dog friendly "areas" as it pertains to neighborhood locations. Majority of beaches do not allow dogs and you can get fined having an unleashed or leashed dog on National Park beaches. There are no dog parks in the VI.

It is more difficult finding rentals that allow dogs, especially multiple dogs. Many condo rentals don't allow pets, at all.

Very few rentals will have fenced in areas for your dogs. If left outside unattended, they can run many risks such as being run over by a car, if on a road or attacked by other dog or dogs, for instance.

Many rentals will require a pet deposit in addition to payment of 1st, last month's rent and a security deposit.

Not trying to discourage you but these are the realities.

Maybe someone living on STX can chime in on any dog friendly beaches they know of.

Hull Bay Beach on STT used to be dog friendly but don't know if it still is. Used to take my dogs to Mandahl beach in the past.
There used to be a couple more but they get resorts built on them or have come under government control/regulation.

Good luck.

All of the west end beaches are dog friendly with the exception of Sandy Point of course. I've taken my dogs all up and down from the Frederiksted Pool up to Butler Bay. There are the regular "beach dogs" that are always somewhere around Teras Vejo that are just part of the atmosphere now. Always say hi to Irie the Great Dane when you're there. She's a very sweet dog. Cane Bay is also dog friendly. I see people with their dogs there every time I'm up that way. I can't speak to the East end beaches. Some of those might be different that are in the East End Marine Park area.

Hey Tommystx! Great info. We are kind of honed in on west end. I know the crime and such but seems like a good place to get in and help be part of building a better community. Is this true? Any suggested places to check out? Thank you everyone!

My wife and I live on the West End and love it.

I truly think the West End just gets a bad reputation for being crime infested. The crime on the island is not more on the west than it is on the east. I'm not going to get into it because it will start a huge thing on this forum. Just do a search on the board for crime issues and you will see the war of words that has ensued from such topics.

I will not turn you toward or away from any areas or neighborhoods. Have you visited STX yet?

i think the beaches are better out west. i have also seen dogs on all beaches i have been to

Ha'penny beach is great. Usually during the week there is not many people and I see dogs all the time and take mine.
For rentals just call realtors and ask what they have available and they usually have 1 or 2.
Best to have them kennel trained or on a chain when you get here. Too many dogs get out of yards (fences aren't great) and get hit by cars.

Best of luck, hope your pups love the water as much as mine have 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205628340220735&set=gm.10153127279226702&type=1&theate r">

Old thread, I know, but all of a sudden NO beaches are dog friendly.  We got read the riot act this morning, standing there with poop bag in hand on leash.  NO beaches.  Couldn't cite the CZM rule, but do NOT argue.  Beware!  I doubt it has spread to STX, since this particular beach, which has always been "dog friendly," is in the gunsights of a nearby developer for his profit.  There was apparently a "complaint" about dogs in the mornings and a lady that has been "living" in the bush (nights only, out of there early) near the beach.  She never bothered anyone.  You see her walking the road every day. 

Posted by: @northsidekevin

I doubt it has spread to STX, since this particular beach, which has always been "dog friendly," is in the gunsights of a nearby developer for his profit.

You say that as if making a profit is a bad thing!

For his sole profit to the exclusion of everyone he can exclude.  They tried to move the boat ramp and the community rallied and resoundingly said "no."  They removed a large swath of mangroves and overdeveloped the parcel with AirBNB.  They took out 30 or more on-site parking spaces and moved them "outside" to the beach area.  Now they seem to have complained about dogs on the beach, which, if you google, have always been allowed without question on non-government managed beaches.  You want to dance on politics, do it somewhere else.  

Posted by: @northsidekevin

Now they seem to have complained about dogs on the beach, which, if you google, have always been allowed without question on non-government managed beaches.  You want to dance on politics, do it somewhere else.  

Ah...the politics of dancing! As you're probably well aware, ALL beaches in the VI are public. I'm not sure where its stated, but, I've lived here for 20 years and always thought dogs were prohibited on beaches. Perhaps you could do us all a favor and contact DPNR to ascertain the facts. Let us know what you've learned.

@northsidekevin Here's what I found:

<<As for dogs, the law does not expressly forbid them on all beaches. However, according to Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner St. Claire Williams, dogs are generally forbidden on public beaches that are maintained by the V.I. government, such as Frederiksted Beach, St. Croix’s Cramer Park and the Vincent Mason Coral Resort.

On shorefront maintained by the National Park Service in the St. Croix district, dogs are prohibited within Buck Island Reef National Monument but may be on leashes by the waterfront around Fort Christiansvaern in Christiansted, according to National Park Service Superintendent Joel Tutein.

Publicly owned Magens Bay beach on St. Thomas, maintained by the semiautonomous volunteer Magens Bay Authority, forbids dogs on the beach except for seeing-eye dogs.

On St. John, no pets are allowed on the beaches within the V.I. National Park, only seeing-eye dogs, but dogs may be on hiking trails so long as they are on a leash, according to park Public Information Officer Paul Thomas.

While dogs are not legally prohibited on other public beaches, the territory does have a leash law, requiring all dogs to be on leashes of six feet or less in length when in public, with fines starting at $200.>>

So, there you have it. Essentially, dogs are prohibited on some beaches but MUST be leashed on ALL others. Pretty straightforward. I often wonder why people take dogs to the beach. If one were to bite me, I'd most likely be suing the owner as would most normal people.

As I made pretty clear elsewhere, no dogs on any beaches according to DPNR enforcement.  Very suspicious, all of a sudden, non-existent "rule." 

Few bring their dogs to the beach after early AM.  It has been a morning tradition, over by 7:30 AM, for the last 20 years.  We all stuck to one end of the beach and never saw any animals that were the least bit likely to bite any scared beachgoer, much less even bother them.  So you're safe now that they're enforcing a non-existent law.  

Posted by: @northsidekevin

So you're safe now that they're enforcing a non-existent law.  

 

Well, at least they're enforcing something! That's kinda new.

Problem resolved.  No more enforcement of non-existent "laws."  Beaches where you pay, no dogs (possibly service dogs, otherwise a fat ADA suit could come up).  Other beaches, NP, etc., service dogs only.  Even the locals who have tried for months to open a small concession stand setup at Hull Bay Beach, which they had with Larry for half a century or more, are now cleaning it up and getting ready to open.  After 'someone' called PNR on them (who demanded, for permitting, they bring the concession stand to the beach so it could be viewed for permitting) and a fine of $5,000 was threatened because the concession was brought to the beach (as directed by PNR).  Confusing, huh?  But a direct line to enforcement doesn't mean enforcement communicates with permitting to stop the nonsense.  Once permitting got to the enforcement division, the problem went away.  God forbid it impacts the overpriced concession that undoubtedly complained.  Now the "issue" seems clear at PNR and the "complainer" seems to be being ignored.  For now.