A guide to taking your pet to the beach
Folly Beach
To ensure pet safety from crowds and extreme heat, animals are prohibited from accessing the beach between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 1 to Sept. 30. Pets are welcome the rest of the year during the off-season but must remain leashed at all times.
Isle of Palms
Pets are permitted on Isle of Palms between 5 a.m to 9 a.m. from April 1 to Sept. 14, and between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. from Sept.15 to March 3. During these hours, they can be off-leash. All animals who visit should be vaccinated and pet owners must carry the vaccination certificate.
Sullivan’s Island
Summer hours for pets on the beach go into effect from May 1 to Sept. 30. During this period, pets are allowed off-leash from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and must be on-leash from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. Animals are not allowed on the beach between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Winter hours for pets on the beach are from Oct. 1 to April 30. During this time, they can be off-leash from 5 a.m. to noon and must be on-leash from noon to 5 a.m.
Kiawah Island
Pets must be leashed at all times from March 16 to Oct. 31. Starting Nov. 1 until March 15, pets can roam off-leash from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except in the critical habitat area, and on-leash from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Edisto Beach
From May 1 to Oct. 31, this beach requires animals to be leashed at all times. Outside of these specified months, pets can enjoy the beach without a leash.
How to keep pets safe as warmer weather approaches
The biggest health risk to pets during the summertime is heat stroke, said Dr. Matthew Patrick, owner of Patrick’s Veterinary Clinic in Downtown Charleston. As temperatures rise, pet owners and their animals can enjoy the warmer weather, but it’s crucial to understand methods to ensure everyone’s safety.
“If it feels warm to you, it’s hotter for them — that’s the rule of thumb,” Patrick said.
The safest times for exercising or letting your pets outside are during the cooler temperatures of early morning or late evening. It’s best to limit times outdoors and choose areas shaded by trees to minimize the risk of surfaces becoming hot from direct heat exposure. A technique for monitoring the temperature of surfaces they walk on is by placing the back of your hand against them until you feel discomfort.
By paying close attention to your pet, you can recognize signs of distress in response to the heat, he said.
“There’s an inability to walk,” Patrick said. “They either seem unstable or wobbly on their legs or they just have a refusal to keep going. It may be that the ground is too hot at that point, or they’re starting to feel the effects of overheating.”
Common indicators of pets being overheated include changes in tongue color and a flushed appearance of dark red gums and tongue. Providing sufficient water and maintaining regular grooming are effective ways to help your pet stay cool.
Another symptom of the warmer season to look out for is allergies. If you notice your pet frequently licking their paws or shaking their head, it’s a common sign of itchiness caused by allergies. Flea allergy is the number one allergy that professionals see, Patrick said.
“The best thing that you can do is to make sure that parasites aren’t part of the problem. You can prevent that with regular preventative medication,” he said.
Seeking guidance from a veterinarian or performing regular evaluations to understand your dog’s response to warmer temperatures is a strategy to withstand the heat.
“If you’re worried that your pet has a hard time in the heat, there’s probably a reason for that. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way,” Patrick said.
Top area pet influencers
Here is a list of some top area pet influencers on Instagram. Yes, these have their own accounts and thousands of followers!
Lenni
@lionelthehog
142K followers
A fit check nobody asked for, yet everybody needs.
Craig
@goodboycraig
108K followers
So fresh and so clean clean.
Maverick
@agoldennamedmaverick
12.6K followers
Say “cheeeeeeeese.”
Emma
@emmarooonlyhastwo
12.5K followers
Emma is a pro at beach strolls.
Teddy
@teddythecavalier
11.8K followers
Wait, get my good side.
Exotic pets get adopted, too
Not every pet that heads to the Charleston Animal Society is a dog or a cat. It gets some, well, fairly exotic friends for which to find new homes.
Like the emu that was on the lam for six weeks. Or a peacock that took three hours to catch when it started wandering.
Here is a list of some of the more interesting adoptions that have brightened lives at the shelter:
Emu: An adventurous young emu needed a getaway, and a six-week holiday before reuniting with its owner was just the thing.
Peacock: Arriving at the shelter, it was treated to a lavish meal of green grapes and crickets. Now, it lives on a 300-acre plantation in Moncks Corner that is fit for a king.
Monitor lizards: Two six-foot monitor lizards, who were a mated pair, became the shelter’s own Romeo and Juliet, as they refused to part ways.
Marsh Tacky horses: The shelter lucked out with four of these unique South Carolina native horses as part of a seizure. Only about 400 of this breed remains.
Barbados black belly sheep: Originally from the sunny Caribbean island of Barbados, someone discovered this sheep happily frolicking along our Carolina coast.
Albino python: Caught in the act of snaking-around, this mischievous serpent was brought in from a crime scene. Imagine the surprise of police officers who were there!
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