LONG BRANCH — A public hearing is scheduled to be held Tuesday on an ordinance that would permit dogs and other animals on city public beaches.
The measure was introduced by council Nov. 12 and is an amendment to the existing ordinances that prohibit dogs and other animals from being on the boardwalk, beachfront or in the water in the city at all times throughout the year.
The city is seeking to amend the existing laws and to permit dogs, cats and other animals on the municipal public beaches during certain times throughout the year.
The new law would require that all animals be leashed at all times and that animal owners and walkers carry a visible device for the removal of animal waste.
“Right now we are legalizing an activity that already occurs anyway,” City Business Administrator Howard H. Woolley said. “There have been some requests for us to allow it.
“Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright allow it, so we thought we can try it,” he said, adding, “It will go into our beach ordinances.”
If adopted next week, dogs and other animals will be permitted on public beaches from Oct. 1 through April 30. Animals will continue to be prohibited on the city beaches, with the exception of service animals, from May 1 through Sept. 30.
Any person in violation of any of terms of the amended ordinance will be subject to a fine of up to $100 for a first offense. Second offenders will be subject to a fine of up to $250 and those who violate the rules for a third offense are subject to a fine of up to $2,000.
“We have some of the biggest beaches,” Mayor Adam Schneider said. “It was that dogs were not allowed on the beach at all.
“We couldn’t allow it in the summer,” he said, adding, “It would have been impossible to protect and police in the summer. So we are going to try this and see how it works.”
The city also reserves the right to amend the ordinance to restrict dogs and other animals from being in areas where endangered species may exist.