Visitors love bringing dogs to Pawleys Island beach, especially this time of year

For dog lovers who enjoy taking their furry friends to the beach, there is nothing better than Pawleys Island from Oct. 1-April 30.

That is when dogs are allowed off the leash, as long as they are under voice command. That means lots of zooming, running, fetching, and even splashing in the surf.

We caught up with several folks who love bringing dogs to Pawleys. They had all brought their four-legged family members to the beach because of Pawleys’ sensible rules that make the island a great place to let fur babies have their best day on the sand.

“Pawleys Island is a special place and the opportunity to have our dogs out here on the beach is one of the special things about Pawleys,” said Barbara Cobb, a local resident who was walking her dog, Cordelia, with her friend, Toni Ricker.

Dawson and Lauren Steele of Circleville, Ohio, were staying in Georgetown for the Wooden Boat Show and brought their dogs to the Pawleys beach during their stay.

“That’s actually the main reason we come to Pawleys in October, because we know that the laws for dogs on the beach loosen up a little bit,” Dawson said. “We love to let them run and see the water.”

Lauren, whose parents have been vacationing in Pawleys Island since 2018, said they bring their dogs with them everywhere they go.

“We always bring them to the beach anyway, so it’s nice to be allowed to let them off the leash, under voice command,” she added.

The rules for having dogs on the Pawleys Island beach are:

• Dogs are allowed on the beach year-round.
• Owners must clean up after dogs.
• From May 1 through Sept. 30, between 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., dogs must be on a leash and under complete control, even in the water.
• From Oct. 1 through April 30, owners must have a leash in hand, and their dog must be under voice control.

The rules, Police Chief Michael Fanning said, keep everyone – humans and dogs – safe and happy, and that is the way everyone likes to be when on Pawleys Island.

“On Pawleys Island, fun and safety go hand in hand,” Fanning said. “Please follow our rules and have a fun time while you are here.”

Mark A. Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, loves his dogs, Rue and Jack, and knows how much people and dogs love the beach, especially Pawleys Island.

“Really,” Stevens said, “what more do you need than a beach and dog to make any day better? It’s wonderful that Pawleys Island welcomes our furry friends to enjoy the beach. If the dogs are well-behaved pooches and under voice control, it’s a win-win for everyone. Just don’t forget to bring your dog toys, balls, and whatever else makes for a fun day at the beach. Your fur babies will thank you for it!”

Barbara, as full-time resident of Pawleys, knows that her silver Labrador retriever, Cordelia, gets to experience Pawleys on a daily basis, but her friend Toni, who lives on Pawleys on a part-time only basis, cherishes the times when here Bernese mountain dog, Kiri, and her English golden retriever, Violet, also get to experience the joy of being on the sand. She said her dogs are social with other dogs and humans, but Cordelia is all about her ball.

“They are very happy,” Barbara said. “They love to fetch the ball and splash in the water.”

“As long as everybody respects the rules, cleans up after the dogs and makes it safe for dogs and people, it is such a great place to take your dogs,” she added.

Peggy Black of Charlotte, North Carolina, who was walking her Corgi named Gus recently on Pawleys Island, said it’s important to her that the town allows dogs on the beach. She and her family have been vacationing at Pawleys Island for decades.

“We love having Gus with us,” Peggy said. “He doesn’t like going in the water, though, or even getting wet. If the waves come up, he is a scaredy cat and goes the opposite way.”

David Bell from Atlanta, Georgia, had his dog, Luna, on the beach recently and said it’s nice to bring his Labrador retriever to Pawleys.

“She loves to play in the water and run around and see other dogs,” David said. “It helps her sleep because she gets all of her energy out.”

He likes the freedom that dogs and their humans get to enjoy the Pawleys Island beach together.

“As long as the dogs are not aggressive, and their owners can control them by voice command,” David said, “it is great that they don’t need to be on a leash this time of year.”

Definitely! Surf’s up, and the pup’s are ready!

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce