(116) A Run on The Beach and From the Law

Wow! Its 10:30 AM and we have already had a run in with the Law. We got up fairly early although not as early as I wanted to but the body was just too exhausted. After breakfast for us and the dogs we left to go to Sullivan’s Island where we read and heard there was an off leash beach that had early morning hours for dogs to play in the ocean. It’s true, all that we read was true including the fact that the dogs could be off leach from 5-10AM. However, we had also read that all of the dogs that run on the beach, go to the beach, are seen at the beach must have a local dog tag (this turns out to be a red white and blue striped ribbon). The dog tags are only available fron the Town Hall which is only open Monday-Friday 9-5. Yea. This is Saturday and we are only here for three days. This besides the fact that the tags cost $35 a dog, good for a year. Now if I think about this, it makes sense and cents! It’s like joining a dog park and the residents like it that it makes them exclusive. However, since we were only here for the weekend and the required office was closed for us to get the required tags it makes it pretty evident that the locals don’t want Outsiders to play on their beach. We were told (by folks at the neighboring dog park-free) that “they don’t check”. So we packed up the dogs, the harnesses, the water, the dog bags and we went to the beach this morning. Aw we approached the beach access we were struck by the number of locals that were walking their dogs unleashed and their dog were coming right up to Max and Beeker who were leashed. Our dogs were beside themselves with desire to run on the beach. As a lady with two dogs approached us and Beeks started pulling to roar ahead, engage with her dogs. I made the mistake of trying to be social and said,”can you tell these dogs are from Illinois, and excited to get on the beach?” Well! We then got the lowdown about how we shouldn’t be on the beach without a tag. That each dog needed a tag and that we “Should Be Careful”. As soon as we were actually on the beach we let them run. They had a blast. They were well behaved. They engaged with lots of dogs, played in the water, drank the water. Beeker and Max had the time of their life with the Ocean and other dogs. They were well behaved dogs and they got a great experience off leash. All of the important stuff. We stayed about 45 minutes and the dogs were about ready to go, and I was feeling like the Beach Gestapo were watching us. As we were leaving the City Police on a Gator ATV came onto the beach, made a large loop and then came back to our side and stopped us. We were by then 15 feet from the entrance but with two set dogs and a Newfie we were fairly obvious. Although the Officer was nice enough, he was fairly unforgiving and told us that we needed tags (we pleaded ignorant) and that the office in Town Hall was closed until Monday. He said we needed tags and that was cheaper than a $500.00 fine. True enough! Needless to say we won’t be going back. Just for that, Beeks gave up his breakfast right there in the sand, just as we left the beach, just for the locals of Sullivan Island.