Panama City Beach Chamber Introduction
Dogs love the beach! Dogs bring joy into our lives, and the beach brings out the joy in dogs. Like our children, they romp and splash with delight at the edge of the Gulf, frolicking in the sunlight and salt air. To the 45% of American households with a dog, it is enchanting to experience this joy.
Communities are wise to tap into this joy to attract residents and visitors; this is why many compete to become more dog-friendly than others. As a result, VISIT FLORIDA (the state’s official tourism marketing corporation) has an entire website section highlighting Florida’s dog-friendly beaches in places such as Boca Raton, Jupiter, and Tampa, with the invitation, “Your dog could be right here with you.” Likewise, some of the highest-end luxury or trendy hotels such as Kimpton, Loews and Aloft invite guests to bring their dogs along. According to the Palm Beach Post, pet-advice site PetKeen.com analyzed all 50 states to see “how accommodating and friendly to pups they are” in 2023, and based on lodging, recreational areas, services, large pet retailers and pet-based events, Florida was the best place to bring your pooch! Embracing this love of our dogs is not surprising, considering that in a recent survey, 41% of respondents said they have taken a vacation with their dog along, and 37% said they have chosen not to travel so they could stay home with their dog.
Bay Families with Dogs is a non-profit company formed when dog-loving boaters’ access to our beloved Shell Island anchorage was threatened; once successful, we branched out to address other public access issues, supporting the establishment of the Dog Beach at Pier Park, local dog parks, and the passage of the “dog dining” ordinance in both Panama City Beach and Panama City. As of May 2024, there are now over 28 different restaurants in Panama City Beach that have permits to allow dogs on their patios! All of this helps our area to remain a leader in attracting dog lovers traveling with their best buddies along.
Bay Families with Dogs encourages more dog-friendly beaches in the area (Pensacola Beach has two, and neighboring Gulf and Franklin counties allow dogs on almost all of their Gulf-front shore). We also participate in and help run dog-friendly lifestyle events, especially if they help match adoptable dogs with their new families.
Dog-friendly places are here to stay, benefitting both locals and visitors. Why else would HGTV publish “Best Dog-friendly Beaches,” listing 16? US News and World Report has a similar list of 30 best dog beaches and Tripsavvy.com (slogan: “vacation like a pro”) lists the 18 best US dog beaches. By the way, The Panama City Beach dog beach made it onto all three of those lists. VISIT FLORIDA calls the Panama City Beach dog beach “one of the best dog beaches in Florida.” So, as they say: come on down, because your dog could be right here with you!
You can become a member of Bay Families with Dogs by visiting our website, www.bayfwd.org, where you can also donate or buy a tee shirt. Or “like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BayFamilieswithDogs.
