I am moving to Savannah and encourage everyone to join me! (Atlanta: 2010, rent)

[mrsnespy]

Originally Posted by Just Plain Al

"We just got a puppy to join us in our new adventure and are wondering if there are any beaches nearby to take her to run. We will keep her on a leash but love to be by the water."

In a word...
Nope!
Savannah is not really "pet friendly".
A dog park on Tybee...
And a drive to Hilton Head will give you some space.
But other then that, you are pretty much confined to your yard.
Or a few walks around town.
On a lead.

If they are willing to keep the puppy on a leash and clean up after it (both of which are reasonable requests for a city, I think), Savannah is pretty pet-friendly. I see people all over downtown with their dogs...on River Street, in the squares. There's even one square with a pet fountain in it. I can't speak for the islands, as I'm rarely there and never there with a dog, but downtown is one of the more pet-welcoming cities I've seen personally.

[ellie]

As a former and part-time dog owner, I have no problem with dog rules like that. Even the no-dogs-at-at-the-beach rule. Sorry. I don't like dogs on the beach - most owners wouldn't know responsible if it bit them on the a**.

And yes, virtually every outdoor cafe downtown usually has a few patrons who bring their pets. I'm fine with that, in general. Downtown is very pet friendly.

[Padgett2]

I would say it's very pet friendly. You would only have to remember what Savannah was like before they enacted the leash laws. There stray,hungry dogs everywhere and doogie doo all over.

I think that a city that cares that it's pets are taken care of is more pet friendly than one that doesn't seem to give a hoot.

Our beach is used just about all year around. If everyone picked up after little Fido, I'm sure they would be welcome to run on the sand. However, not all owners do this and it's not fun to step in or clean off the Kiddies. If it's above the high tide level, it will stay there a good while, hiding in the sand, just waiting!!

[Just Plain Al]

That's pretty much what I said.
It sounded like this person was thinking about a romp on the beach, or in the park.
I applaud leash laws.
I'm Voice for Pets, remember?

I know that Savannah is pet frinedly.
I know that pets are allowed just about anywhere in the city.
I just meant having a romp with your pet, is all.
Off lead.

Sorry if you took my post the wrong way.

[Taylorrae9]

Ellie,

We are looking at leaving Santa Rosa, Ca and relocating to Georgia. We are a lesbian couple with three children. I really am glad to have seen this post. If you can contact me I would love to talk to you. I also am looking at going back to school and getting a PhD and it was the cost of living that made me took into Savannah. My email is the same as my post name at yahoo. Thanks, because my children are 5, 11, and 12 I fear I must take these post seriously and nothing is worse for a child than being rejected based on something they have no control over. Thanks and thank to all of you on this forum who tell it like it is. It has helped me so much.

[ellie]

Originally Posted by Taylorrae9

Ellie,

We are looking at leaving Santa Rosa, Ca and relocating to Georgia. We are a lesbian couple with three children. I really am glad to have seen this post. If you can contact me I would love to talk to you. I also am looking at going back to school and getting a PhD and it was the cost of living that made me took into Savannah. My email is the same as my post name at yahoo. Thanks, because my children are 5, 11, and 12 I fear I must take these post seriously and nothing is worse for a child than being rejected based on something they have no control over. Thanks and thank to all of you on this forum who tell it like it is. It has helped me so much.

Thanks Taylorrae. I've contacted you as requested. Please keep checking in as I imagine other people may reply to your questions.

I'm not sure what it's like to be a parent and don't have much experience with the reactions of kids about non-traditional families. Georgia, for the most part, is quite socially conservative, though there are a few cities, like Savannah, that are less so.

I recommend looking at Athens, Atlanta, or even Gainesville and Tallahassee, FL as better places to earn your PhD. Our colleges only offer a few degree programs at that level, though I imagine you've already looked into that. The cost of living in all of those cities, except for Atlanta, is more in line with Savannah, too.

Large college towns tend to have more liberal populations than other cities and probably more accepting peer groups for your kids.

[marynurse]

So how is it going? Didi you make the big jump?

[gdaddy]

I absolutely love Savannah. I don't live there but I am trying. The deal is that I want to live in the historic district because I like to walk and not drive everywhere. The problem is jobs. The amount that white collar jobs pay versus the cost of prime housing does not match. I believe you have to come from money to be able to live in that area, if I can find a job there that pays what I need, I am there.

[offthefence1]

...The amount that white collar jobs pay versus the cost of prime housing does not match.

gdaddy - Can you elaborate please?

[Just Plain Al]

Originally Posted by offthefence1

...The amount that white collar jobs pay versus the cost of prime housing does not match.

gdaddy - Can you elaborate please?

You gots to have money to live here?
Depends what you want v what you need.
I know plenty of people that work "everyday jobs" and still are able to enjoy all that Savannah has to offer.
As my friend Mick usta say...
You can't always get what you want...
But you get what you need.