Biloxi’s beaches — no oil, no dogs
Mississippi’s coast has so far been spared from BP-sponsored black tides, with most of the oil that has leaked since the rig explosion appearing to be headed for the coastlines of Florida and Louisiana.
Despite that, Biloxi’s wide white sand beaches seemed relatively empty when Ace and I pulled into town yesterday.
A massive effort to fight off any slicks that might approach is being staged, but Biloxi’s beaches so far are fortunately free of oil, unfortunately short on tourists and, as usual, not dog friendly.
Maybe Biloxi is a reflection of how skewed our priorities can get. Drilling in the gulf? No problem. Casinos on the beach? The more the merrier. Dogs on the beach? No way.
They, or so I guess the reasoning goes, might taint the pristine shores.
Meanwhile, the welcome mat is laid out for high-rises and high-rollers and those seeking oil from beneath the gulf, even though the potential mess they might bring can mount far higher than a pile of dog poop.
I’m just sayin’.
Of course, policy and practice are two different things, and locals inform me that, except on the weekends, one can pretty much get away with their dog on the beach, as long as he or she is leashed.
We didn’t know that, so Ace and I just sat on a bench under the 96 degree sun and stared longingly at the water.
We stayed at a Motel 6, which we can now add to our truly dog friendly list.
The room was a bit spartan, but the staff went gaga over Ace, and his poundage — despite the silly obsession so many motels have about a dog’s weight — was not a factor at all. The staff even came up with a nickname for him, BAD, standing for Big Ass Dog.
Today, after a day driving south, Big Ass Dog and me head west. Possibly we’ll stop at one of Mississippi’s dog-friendlier beaches, maybe we’ll spend some time in New Orleans before taking on Texas. In any event, we plan to dip our toes in the water — avoiding, we hope, the big ass oil spill.
Posted by John Woestendiek June 9th, 2010 under Muttsblog.
Tags: ace, ace does america, animals, beaches, biloxi, bp, coast, coastline, dog, dog friendly, dog's country, dogs, dogscountry, explosion, gulf, mississippi, ohmidog!, oil, oil spill, pets, rig, road trip, spill, travel
Comments
Comment from Eighteenpaws
Time June 9, 2010 at 6:01 pm
“Dog’s Country” is more intoxicating and addicting than I ever imagined. Keep it up, you guys. You have no idea how much we are enjoying it and traveling vicariously thru you! Rock on! (And what a totally handsome shot of Ace on the beach!)
Comment from Skimbi
Time June 10, 2010 at 8:51 am
We drive to Florida every year with our yellow lab mix, who loves swimming. Once there, we often have to drive a long distances to find a dog-friendly beach. In Daytona Beach cars are allowed to drive on the beach but no dogs allowed…..not even in your car! What’s up with that?
Comment from Anne’n’Spencer
Time June 10, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Barking a hello. We’ve just gotten the Internet connection at our new digs, so I’m catching up on all the Ohmidog! news. There’s something in the grass here that causes Spencer to roll over on his back in a sort of ecstasy. Dognip? We’re calling it “yerba buena.”
Comment from Jan
Time November 1, 2010 at 10:43 am
This is one tourist that Biloxi will never see again, I guess I should have researched first. So we get settled at the super nice DOG FRIENDLY RV park and decided to head for the beach for a nice long walk with my two Jack Russell Terriers ‘the girls’ and what do you suppose, NO DOGS on the beach, PERIOD!!! In fact, that was the first of a long list of rules, way before NO GUNS!!! give me a break!!! There was a distinct lack of tourists on the beach, it seems tourism is in the tank here, perhaps they ought to be more welcoming of tourists with dogs, they may be surprised at the amount of people who stay away from the area in favor of places with more pet friendly beach policies, I will certainly be among them. We thought we’d give the Gulf Coast a try but the welcome mat just wasn’t apparent !!
Comment from George
Time June 2, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Any idea if the beaches in Gulfport or long beach allow dogs?
Comment from Danny
Time October 3, 2012 at 7:52 pm
You will not see us again.
No dogs-no tourists .
Comment from Robert
Time February 7, 2013 at 12:23 am
The beaches in Ocean Springs allow pets; You must lease and clean up after them though.
Comment from Samantha
Time May 27, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Ocean Springs ALL the way! Dog friendly and plenty of dog lovers to go around and play with your pet. I just recently moved to Biloxi and we drive to our home town to OS to take our two dogs to the beach. One big, one small.
Comment from Hv
Time October 14, 2015 at 1:56 pm
Biloxi and ocean springs allow dogs ON LEASHES. You may have a well behaved dog, but it’s more about other dogs why they have that rule. I live here and we’ve always brought our dogs. I wouldn’t worry too much about it unless you hear it from a policeman yourself. The signs are up but even locals don’t comply with them completely. Dogs need to have fun too!
Comment from Rebecca Hengen
Time June 9, 2010 at 12:08 pm
As a resident of Biloxi, I have long felt sad about the ban on dogs on the beach. Another sad fact is that we have no off leash dog parks.