Dogs could get daylong summer hours on Virginia Beach Boardwalk

VIRGINIA BEACH — The dog days of summer may be longer than ever before in Virginia Beach.

Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson is leading an effort to extend the hours that leashed dogs are allowed on the Boardwalk between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Currently, pups can only be on the popular concrete path 6-10 a.m. during the summer months. The City Council votes Tuesday to extend the cutoff time to 7 p.m.

“People are walking their dogs on the Boardwalk all during the day (in the summer) anyway,” Wilson said.

She believes extending the hours will give police a break from enforcement and allow dog owners more flexibility.

There are no time restrictions during the rest of the year. The beach will remain off-limits for dogs this summer; they will be allowed only on the Boardwalk and adjacent grassy areas.

Wilson lives at the Oceanfront and walks her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Carla, on the Boardwalk several times a day. Several council members who are also dog owners have thrown their support behind extending the hours.

Dogs weren’t allowed on the Boardwalk in the summer until 2014, when Wilson proposed to change the law. She recently conferred with Police Chief Paul Neudigate about striking the restrictive hours altogether, but they agreed to limit them to daylight, Wilson said.

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“I feel like it’s a win,” she said.

The chief could not be reached for comment by Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, several people who were walking their dogs on the Boardwalk said they’re in favor of extending the summer hours. Lori Silvers of Red Mill takes her dogs, Molly and Max, for walks in the summer, and knows the 3-mile stretch can be crowded.

“I’m sure that there will be some people that will be annoyed, but most people who bring their dogs out, their dogs are well-behaved,” she said.

The Virginia Beach Hotel Association also likes the idea. Several Oceanfront hotels allow pets.

“It’s something that’s good for residents that live here and good for visitors that are coming in that have their dogs with them,” said John Zirkle, association president. “It’s just another way to add something for our guests.”

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com