Bailey's 1st (and then 2nd) Beach Trip

My husband had the day off on Tuesday so we decided to take our dog, Bailey, to the beach for the first time. We usually go to Sullivan's Island so we headed there.

We got there around 10:30 and,unlike the last time we were there, there were not any dogs around. Weird.

Then two women walking by were like, "Do you have a tag for your dog?" I was like, "Uhhh..what kind of tag?"

They said you had to register for one and to watch out because a cop was coming. 

As a former law enforcement officer, this made me laugh. I am not scared of police officers.

My husband and I walked right over to the officer who was coming down the beach in a golfcart.

I said, "Those ladies said I need to watch out for you because I don't know about having tags on my dog?!"

The officer laughed and said they had a new law that went into effect May 1st that all dogs on Sullivan's Island - even visiting dogs - have to be registered ($35 plus you have to show proof of rabies vaccination and home insurance should your dog attack someone while on Sullivan's). Furthermore, no dogs are allowed on the beaches from 10am to 6pm. Fines for all that? Around a grand.

They are currently handing out little flyers with the new laws so we didn't get fined. The officer was nice and told us that Isle of Palms, just down the road, allowed dogs all the time.

So...Bailey's first beach trip lasted about 5 minutes....

We made the short drive over to Isle of Palms (IOP).

There is such a big difference in the two. Sullivan's has the big fancy houses on the beach and IOP is more touristy, with condos and restaurants (and bathrooms nearby!!). 

We easily found a parking spot ($6 for the day in a lot)

and headed to the beach.

Overall, Bailey was really good and had fun. She didn't like the crashing of the waves sound and would throw her head back and try to run away. We kept her on a leash the whole time (I believe during the hours we were there, it was leash only) and would have even if they were able to run around. I don't trust her walking from the car to the house off a leash yet! #PuppyProblems

Do you have a dog that you take to the beach?

Hope you're having a great Thursday!