John Sawyer is licked by his dog Charlie with his wife Linda and their other dog Oreo at a dog-friendly beach in Panama City Beach, Fla. <\/p>\n
Dogs, long banned from most Volusia County beaches, are getting their chance this year. Eventually. <\/p>\n
The County Council has agreed it will at least temporarily allow dogs on the beach in coming weeks, under certain conditions: Only after 4 p.m. and before 9 a.m., and only on leashes. <\/p>\n
The move happened abruptly after Councilman Josh Wagner pitched it toward the end of Thursdays council meeting. Might as well throw it out there he said. I want to do a trial, pilot program to allow dogs on the beach. <\/p>\n
Do what? responded County Chair Jason Davis. <\/p>\n
As the discussion continued, it became evident that most other council members were open to the idea, except Doug Daniels, who asked: What about cleaning up behind them? <\/p>\n
An ordinance is expected to come back to the council for a vote in February. The pilot program will last three months, after which the council could either end the practice or extend it. <\/p>\n
The council vote ended up 6-1, with only Daniels against. <\/p>\n
Vice Chair Pat Patterson, an insurance agent, did raise some concerns, asking: What kind of legal responsibility do we have if a couple of dogs get into it and somebody gets bitten? <\/p>\n
County Attorney Dan Eckert said the county would be immune from that kind of liability. (Sovereign immunity protects county governments from liability over planning-level decisions like the dog ordinance.) <\/p>\n
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Tail-waggin news: Dogs will be allowed on Volusia County beaches<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" John Sawyer is licked by his dog Charlie with his wife Linda and their other dog Oreo at a dog-friendly beach in Panama City Beach, Fla. Dogs, long banned from most Volusia County beaches, are getting their chance this year. Eventually Continue reading