WEEKI WACHEE – It’s a sad day for dogs and their owners, after the County’s Park and Recreation Department announced the end of Bark Island Days at Pine Island Park. Officials say increased safety concerns are to blame for the decision. However, there is still the eight-acre Bicentennial Rotary Dog Park located at 10375 Sandler Street in Spring Hill, say officials, and plans to make improvements to that park are being researched.
Currently, Bicentennial Park offers three runs for large, small, and service dogs, a wash station, a picnic area, and restrooms.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ™2013 – 2015 Real News Real Fast, Inc.
Don’t understand why Hernando County is so anti-dog. You go to other parts of Florida outdoor dining where you can take your dog, stores including Walmart are pet friendly…Bad for business and tourism..It is sad because Hernando is close to so many tourist attractions whiteout the high prices and congestion.
hernando county sucks.. in alot of ways.. I need out!
“increased safety concerns” I assume this is code for owners were not keeping their dogs under control. Probably another case of a few bad apples.
that’s just wrong
Increased safety concerns about what, exactly?
The residents of Pine Island are A*****ES! They think they own that beach! Are you gonna tell me that a kid swimming with a diaper full of shit is not a safety concern!? Are you gonna tell me that broken glass, hypodermic needles, cigarette butts, pop tops, and the counties PEDOPHILES are not a safety concern!? Jesus Christ they have their pictures posted on the bathroom walls! Our county Commissioners are PUSSY’S! ALWAYS BENDING TO THE RICH LOBBY AND SCREWING THE LITTLE GUY!
Rotary Park might as well be in a war zone! That area sucks! I always CARRY when I go to THAT park! Safety concerns at Pine Island my ***!
SPRINGHILL IS A SAFETY CONCERN ! DUMB***!
Absolutely right!
I dont have anthing to say
We love when your dogs are at restaurants what could be unhealthy, sanitary about that just kidding hahahahaha hate dog while im eating and no tourist like it until they pissing while you eat and if all that stuff if on pine island why dont you get some people together and clean it I would help
Public places maintained by public tax dollars, should be open for all to enjoy so long as they abide by the appropriate laws and rules. This applies to dogs and their owners as well as non dog owners and people. Sad that the limited access which had been offered for dogs and their owners to enjoy time together at the little beach at Pine Island, has been lost. Yes, there is the Bicentennial Rotary Dog Park, but that’s not the same as time shared with man’s best friend, on the beach; is it?
I wish the exact nature of the nature of the “increased safety concerns” would be clearly stated and where appropriate, the source of those concerns be put forward. It would be a very sad situation if this move was done to appease primarily those living near the beach, as the beach is public and not the private property of any one individual or nearby resident.
Boo hoo
Its a public beach not a dog park
Just like the preserve n hernando beach
Its not tax dollars at your disposal
Lets have a vote… I m sure there are more dog owners than not!
Good! Even if you pick up your dog poop, worms, eggs, disease, larvae, fleas, and ticks can be left behind. You walk on it with bare feet…those larvae can burrow into your feet. What about the kiddies, who play in the sand then put their hands in their mouths? It was no different than playing in your cat’s litter box. Now, they need to get in there and clean up the sand from all that crud that is left behind. The beach is for people, not dogs.
Would you please cite studies validating your claim?
Florida has a number of beaches where dogs are welcome, some on leashes, some ‘free range’; if what you claim has merit and is indeed a legitimate and common problem, I would assume those beaches would also have been made dog-free.
However that has not been the case, so perhaps your claim is borne more of your personal agenda than factual documentation.
Personally I would be more concerned about the impact on the environment of septic systems in the area, as they are not the best option for dense urban or suburban residential areas.
There are only a limited number of options where dogs and their owners can enjoy our slice of the Nature Coast, with other dog owners; it is a sad day indeed, when one of those options is no longer available.
Remember too, that the hours and times when a person could bring their dog to Pine Island was very, very limited, to a couple early hours in the morning (IIRC from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.) for three or four months of the years. In the overall scheme of things, it was just a handful of hours, every other Saturday, a couple months out of the year.
So I guess I’m not taking my 9-month old pup to the beach for the first ever time at the weekend then.
Move! Problem Solved
N.LEE Fact not study, leptosporsis can be contracted by humans thru animal urine and poop . Know 4 a fact cause our son almost died from leptosporsis after swimming and walking on infected soil. Kidney failure and much morr. Google it and next time your animal lick his butt and then your face or mouth,think bout it. Sorry,but fact not fiction.
Leptospirosis can be in infected dogs GI and spread through urine or feces; however leptospirosis is *not* endemic within dogs. Canine infections of leptospirosis is not overly common and while I suppose a dog could carry it and present asymptomatic, in general a dog thus infected would be showing signs that would alert any responsible dog owner to take their pet to the vet for diagnosis and treatment. More common carriers of the specific bacteria are wild animals, rodents, and cattle; in fact infections of this bacteria in dogs is most often traced back to infected wild animals, such as rats and opposums.
I can appreciate your concern if your son somehow became infected with the bacteria; did they contract it at Pine Island? Overall Florida, based on its population, has not had many reported cases of leptospirosis infection and most of those cases involved adults and several were traced back to an infection source outside of the state of Florida.
The bottom line is that a person going to any beach, whether one which is dog friendly or not, should take reasonable precautions that include wearing appropriate footwear, not ingesting sea water (or lake, river water or pool water, for that matter) and being aware of their immediate environment and in the case of children, constant supervision.
Up North they have dog parks
But seriously the withlachoocee river would make a good park
Have you ever thought about the birds,fish and other wildlife and their contribution to things we fear? Do you think a manatee or dolphin do not produce excrement? Please be realistic.
There’s a great dog park in Korea
Good one Skinny,lmbo
I get it joshua thomas,lol. Do I win a prize,??
Can we at least finish out the season?