Topsail Island Dog Friendly Vacations

Please keep in mind that while the beach is a great place to have fun with your dog, there are safety concerns to consider:

• When heading to the beach, make sure your dog has on a collar with proper identification and contact information.  Don’t forget to bring a leash, a poop bag, a water bowl and fresh cool water, and sun protection for your dog.
• Make sure your dog doesn’t get too hot, thirsty, or tired.
• Hot sand and pavement – While we can keep our feet cool in our flip flops, dogs don’t have this protection.  The sand, pavement, and sidewalks can be extremely hot for your dog during the summer months.
• Water from the ocean or sound – Make sure your dog doesn’t drink water from the ocean or sound.  Drinking ocean and sound water can lead to stomach upsets and dehydration due to the high salt content.
• Provide a shady resting spot for your dog.  Dogs can get sunburned, especially ones with short or light colored hair with pink skin.  Talk to your veterinarian about using sun block on your dog.

• Keep a close eye on your dog to make sure he doesn’t bother other dogs or people.  Make sure your dog doesn’t play with things that may be harmful to him like fishing lines and hooks, dead fish, and jellyfish.
• Let your dog dig in the sand as long as he doesn’t throw sand on people.  Make sure you fill in the holes before you leave the beach.  People have been seriously injured by falling into holes on the beach.
• Sand spurs and cacti – Sand spurs and cacti are indigenous to our region and are a safety concern for everyone.  These plants are not poisonous but can give an unpleasant and unexpected stick as the spikes on these plants are painful when they pierce the skin.  Check for spurs or cacti on your dog’s paws, legs, and fur.
• Always clean up your dog’s waste.  Follow town ordinances on waste disposal and make sure you keep the water and beach clean for other visitors.
• When your beach outing is over, bathe or rinse your dog with fresh water.  The salt in the water in the ocean and sound can be harmful to a dog’s coat.