By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
One-year-old Asher likes to play fetch on the beach at Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area in Manasquan. His owner Erin Nunn used to like it too, until the hours she could walk Asher along the water were restricted.
“We look at our dogs like they’re our family and I feel like someone just came and told me that I can’t take my family to the beach any more,” she said.
The Conservation Area — dubbed Dog Beach by the locals and owned and operated by the Monmouth County Park System — is restricting dogs from the beach between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The decision was made by the Board of Recreation Commissioners. They voted during their May 11 meeting. Outraged, Nunn launched an online petition with more than 5,000 signatures as of this afternoon. She joined a protest on Sunday too.
“There are 170 miles of coastline along the New Jersey shore and I’m not asking for any of that, I’m asking for this one tiny little plot of inlet land,” Nunn said.
A county park system spokesperson tells NJTV News the Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area never officially became a dog beach. As long as they are on leashes, dogs are still allowed on the trails between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dogs are permitted on the beach from 6 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. daily.
“I feel like not everyone has the time to play when someone else says it’s OK to,” Nunn said.
“You can still come here. Jersey’s too crowded. We need restrictions,” said Manasquan resident Jane Harrison.
Harrison says she doesn’t take her dog to the beach.
“It gets crowded. There’s problems with fights,” Harrison said. Not just dog fights. “Also people fights and drinking,” she said.
Locals Truttie and Charlie come with their owner almost every day.
“There have been [dog] fatalities here,” said Point Pleasant Borough resident Cat Felix. “Especially on the weekends. So I suspect that had a lot of that had do with why this decision was made, but there was no information given out and I think that’s unfortunate.”
The County Park System spokesperson tells NJTV News that was not part of the decision, adding, “In an effort to provide opportunity for all visitors to the beach area of the park, times have been established so that dog activities or non-dog activities may be enjoyed by everyone.”
“If they can split the beach that would be fine, something. I only come during low tides. That’s the only time the dogs can go. There is no beach at high tide,” said Manasquan resident Bob Stanley.
A meeting of the board is scheduled for tonight. Nunn plans to attend.
She says she’s curious to see how many people attend. She’s hoping for a good turnout and that the pressure will result in a change in the decision to limit the dogs’ hours on the beach.