By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Maxie and Simba became friends pretty quickly, but they probably should work a little bit more on refining their manners.
There was some loud barking, a growl or two and then a nose-to-nose standoff for a few seconds before they settled down.
Maxie and Simba met each other on a Sea Isle City beach Monday afternoon. This is the time of year when dogs are allowed on Sea Isle’s beaches, giving them a huge sandy playground to romp on for several months.
Dogs are permitted on the beaches between Oct. 1 and May 1. Owners are required to keep their dogs on leashes and clean up their pet’s poop when they are on the beach.
Sea Isle touts itself as a dog-friendly town. The city plans to build its first official dog park in 2023 in the north end of town on Landis Avenue near Seventh Street. In the meantime, the dogs have the beaches as their place to play and exercise.
Knowing that many families choose their vacation destination based on its pet-friendly reputation, Sea Isle officials want dog owners to enjoy the shoreline with their canines during the off-season.
“Many of our local property owners and visitors have pets, so we always see families enjoying time with their dogs here in Sea Isle City,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said. “Walking your dog on the beach is especially enjoyable. We wish we could allow dogs on the beach during the busy season, but there are simply too many dogs here in the summertime.”
Making sure that the beaches remain free of dog feces is a big reason why canines are not allowed on the sand during the busy summer vacation season.
“However, no matter what time of year it is, we ask dog owners to clean up after their pets and keep their dogs on the curb side of the sidewalk, because curbing prevents dogs from relieving themselves on private property and front yards, and it shows respect for your neighbors,” Custer said.
Dogs are also banned from the beaches over the summer to prevent them from damaging the sandy nesting areas of threatened or endangered migratory shorebirds as well as harming environmentally sensitive plants.
Those restrictions are part of the city’s responsibility to maintain the beaches in agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Theresa DuRoss, a Sea Isle resident who owns Simba with her husband, James, noted that she is well aware when the beaches open up to dogs.
“We wait for October 1st to come every year,” she said.
Theresa DuRoss pointed out that Simba “absolutely loves the beach.”
Although Simba is a veteran of the Sea Isle beach scene, his newfound friend, Maxie, was out frolicking on the sand for the very first time Monday.
Maxie’s owner, Bob Furman, of Broomall, Pa., and his girlfriend, Rachel Belkin, of Philadelphia, were enjoying the Columbus Day holiday with a day trip to the shore.
Maxie is a 10-month-old mixed breed that Furman adopted from the Brandywine Valley SPCA in West Chester, Pa.
“She’s a little skittish. But she loved it,” Furman said of Maxie’s reaction to being on the beach for the first time.
Some dogs were also spotted Monday on Sea Isle’s oceanfront Promenade. Mary LaRosa and her mother, Rose LaRosa, were enjoying sunny skies and mild temperatures while sitting on benches overlooking the Promenade at John F. Kennedy Boulevard. They were accompanied by Mary’s dog, Tobi.
Mary said it was particularly gratifying to spend time at the shore with her mother because Rose LaRosa is recovering from a health ailment.
“It means the world to us to just sit here and see the dogs and the people,” Mary said.
The LaRosas have a family summer vacation home in Sea Isle. Mary LaRosa, who lives in Aston, Pa., is vice president of the Delco Dawgs animal rescue organization in Drexel Hill, Pa.
After she rescued Tobi, Mary LaRosa had a DNA test done on the dog to find out his background because of his allergies. The DNA results came back showing that Tobi has a mixture of the Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise, poodle, Yorkshire terrier and Maltese breeds in him.
Mary cooks for Tobi because the dog is on a special diet due to his allergies. His meals include salmon, string beans, peas, carrots and organic brown meat.
“Yes, he is a spoiled dog,” Mary said with a laugh as Tobi sat in her lap.
