Santa Cruz UNwelcoming to dogs?? (Long Beach, Huntington Beach: best town, allergies, living)

[WantAnAdventure]

I visited Santa Cruz recently and noticed that there were "no dogs allowed" signs everywhere, including in downtown. We wanted to take our little dog with us to sit outside and sip coffee or eat a bite. But, sadly, we had to make other plans. We also noticed dogs weren't allowed in several beach areas, such as the boardwalk and other outdoor areas.

Is that a California thing or a Santa Cruz thing?

Just something I noticed and was a bit surprised for such a laid back town.

[mmouwse]

You see this more and more of this in CA.

[HockeyFan]

I've found the opposite problem as someone with allergies... I even see people taking their dogs to malls, something I had never heard of before living here. That's in Southern California, not the Santa Cruz area.

Generally, I see FAR more dogs in public places here than other places I've been, and it's not even close.

[leavingcali]

I was just there over Thanksgiving and saw dogs everywhere. In fact, there is a dog beach by West Cliff Drive; actually, it is a dog beach for certain hours, and then dogs aren't allowed. Additionally, people were walking there dogs all over Capitola Village.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by WantAnAdventure

Is that a California thing or a Santa Cruz thing?

Little of both actually.

Best town we have lived in was Carmel, CA. Totally dog friendly, Wide open DAWG beaches, restaurants catering to my buddy. I ate twice a week at the Forge In the Forest with my dog Theodore. Outside at a outdoor fireplace we sat sharing a few beers and our favorite pizza - crispy duck with goat cheese, yummmmm.

I miss my buddy Theodore, I wish he could have met Bear. Same breed, different dog. I think they would have liked each other. I plan on sharing Carmel with Bear, many of the restaraunts are the same, changed or gone.

[james203]

try the red white & blue beach just outside of santa cruz.i have seen dogs there.have fun.

[PureHapa]

It varies by city. Manhattan Beach is very dog-unfriendly. No dogs allowed in any Manhattan Beach public parks. The other towns on my area allow dogs in the parks. Palos Verdes has doggy-bag dispensers at its parks. But no beach in this area allows dogs. I think the closest "dog-beach" to me is in Long Beach, but I haven't checked it out.

Huntington Beach, Del Mar and other places have dog beaches.

The "no dogs" at outdoor cafes is a statewide law. No restaurants can allow dogs - even in the outdoor areas. It's a health code thing I believe.

[midnightbirdgirl]

I am seeing that as well in many places, this would not be true if people had some decency and clean up their dogs mess!
MBG

[midnightbirdgirl]

Originally Posted by PureHapa

It varies by city. Manhattan Beach is very dog-unfriendly. No dogs allowed in any Manhattan Beach public parks. The other towns on my area allow dogs in the parks. Palos Verdes has doggy-bag dispensers at its parks. But no beach in this area allows dogs. I think the closest "dog-beach" to me is in Long Beach, but I haven't checked it out.

Huntington Beach, Del Mar and other places have dog beaches.

The "no dogs" at outdoor cafes is a statewide law. No restaurants can allow dogs - even in the outdoor areas. It's a health code thing I believe.

There are plenty of restaurants that allow dogs outside in CA, so it is not a statewide law.
MBG

[PureHapa]

I stand corrected: http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/ne...est0706a.shtml

I guess it's just my area - too bad for me!