7/25 my youngest dog and I Patches went to Elijah Cove Beach my older dog Jack-Boy as at the vet! we had the best time ever afterward I went to the visitor center said where we were not only said, but described where we were to the visitor center staff
I said was coming back on Monday 7/31 with both my dogs. I was told as a person with a disability could get free lifetime pass. between Tuesday and Friday I spoke to staff maybe five times.
every time I spoke to the staff, I told them what a wonderful time we had at Elijah Cove Beach I talked about it --- I described it saying it was an ideal setting, particular my little dog Patches who is slightly brain damaged. I never made a secret of where we were.
Friday 7/28 I went there without my dogs to bring the necessary information to get the free lifetime pass. I spoke to a completely different staff member again I said what a great time Patches and I had at Elijah Cove Beach; describing the beach itself and what a wonderful set it up it was for Patches
Monday, August 31 went there with Patches and Jack-Boy we got there just before 10 AM about 1:30 PM
I took both dogs to the barbecue about about 100 yards away. I made a fantastic barbecue of bacon burgers which the dogs and I thoroughly enjoyed. dogs. more than 98% of the time we were alone no one else was there. even with a carload of 20. Something's showed up the dogs bark briefly. I told him the quiet they did.
The dogs were left momentarily unattended, leashed the bench while I put things in the car they did not bark they didn't whine they didn't cry they were perfect.
After i put stuff back in the car I got the dogs they wanted to walk around explore a little bit which we did. then we returned to our place at the beach. The entire time we were having the barbecue, no one was there, so I had left my chair, and our belongings at the beach by the water.
I was preparing to lay the beach like a down again and settle in for the afternoon. It was now going to 3:30 PM. I was approached by a park. Ranger who told me that was not dog friendly and we had to leave. understand on this particular day when he approached us I was there almost 6 hours. July 25 I was there 5 1/2 hours and no one said a word
The ranger directed us to a beach across the way. I explained that I do have physical disabilities and asked about accessibility. He said I could park nearby. he failed to mention that there were about 85 steps down to water,
I called the visitor center they were absolutely no help at all. They directed us to. Spring Lake recreation area, which was a dangerous beach, though it was dog friendly.
Unlike Elijah Cove Beach the sand was full of chopped up pieces of seashells that cut my feet as well as cut the dogs paws. The water was not clear like Elijah Cove Beach seaweed tangled in my feet I could not swim. I'm a strong swimmer.
buzzards/hawks were nearby coming very close to us, making me nervous that they were going to harm the dogs
It is also important to note that neither Elijah Cove Beach or Spring Lake displays any signs indicating which beaches are dog, friendly, and which ones aren't
The beach that we were on and had such a marvelous time on, was not marked as dog prohibitive
there are never any Rangers either at Elijah Cove Beach or Spring Lake
VISITORS CENTER IS USELESS
their definition of a dog friendly beach is a "NATURAL BEACH" One might ask what is a natural beach?
they claim any that does not have yellow pylons for swimming around it
GREAT! using Elijah Cove Beach and Spring Lake as example there are dozens of beaches. no one can direct me to which ones are dog friendly or safe so what they expect is if you want to go there with your dog you're gonna drive around to go to every single beach and check it out and find one that's dog friendly, handicapped, accessible and safe
THEY OFFER NO GUIDANCE | NO ASSISTANCE
Every single staff member whether I spoke to them on the phone or at the visitor center or devoid of compassion and empathy
I am physically and developmentally disabled stage four cancer survivor. I have been through literal hell the last year, particularly the last six months since moving to South Carolina these people have made my life miserable.
Because my living situation is so appalling. I try to find fun places for the dogs and I to go and they just totally ruined it for us.
WORSE THEY DO NOT CARE read more