John Sawyer is licked by his dog Charlie with his wife Linda and their other dog Oreo at a dog-friendly beach in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Dogs, long banned from most Volusia County beaches, are getting their chance this year. Eventually.

The County Council has agreed it will at least temporarily allow dogs on the beach in coming weeks, under certain conditions: Only after 4 p.m. and before 9 a.m., and only on leashes.

The move happened abruptly after Councilman Josh Wagner pitched it toward the end of Thursdays council meeting. Might as well throw it out there he said. I want to do a trial, pilot program to allow dogs on the beach.

Do what? responded County Chair Jason Davis.

As the discussion continued, it became evident that most other council members were open to the idea, except Doug Daniels, who asked: What about cleaning up behind them?

An ordinance is expected to come back to the council for a vote in February. The pilot program will last three months, after which the council could either end the practice or extend it.

The council vote ended up 6-1, with only Daniels against.

Vice Chair Pat Patterson, an insurance agent, did raise some concerns, asking: What kind of legal responsibility do we have if a couple of dogs get into it and somebody gets bitten?

County Attorney Dan Eckert said the county would be immune from that kind of liability. (Sovereign immunity protects county governments from liability over planning-level decisions like the dog ordinance.)

Read the rest here:

Tail-waggin news: Dogs will be allowed on Volusia County beaches