Photos and text by Mary Walton
On nice summer evenings, our next-door neighbor opens his car’s hatch and his two dogs leap in, joyously wagging their tails in anticipation of a romp on Asbury Park’s 8th Avenue Beach.
You don’t have to own one to enjoy watching exuberant canines cavort in sand and surf, chasing balls, digging holes and running, diving and playing. Their owners mostly stand around chatting and drinking coffee and throwing the occasional ball.
Dog Beach doubles as a beach for surfers; they can come any time, but dogs are permitted from 6 in the evening until 8:30 the following morning. No aggressive dogs or females in heat are allowed, and owners are expected to clean up after their pooches.
SOUNDTRACK: Harry Nilsson, from “You’ve Got Mail.” :
Great story and pics ….
We loved taking our “kids” to this beach for several years until the population changed to predominately larger dogs..and while they are generally well-behaved, they are intimidating to small and medium size dogs….and so we no longer go…
Others have cited the same concern….that’s why many of us were hopeful that a small area @ the north end of the Ocean Grove beach could be established for the “small/medium” dogs…
Is there hope of this happening?