Dogs on Sanibel
LAST UPDATED: 26 April 2014

Sanibel and Captiva residents love animals of all kinds.

All of Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are pet friendly and allow dogs as long as they are on a leash. The Island's leash policy protects our nesting shore birds, and the many sea turtle nests from being disturbed. Some shoreline birds such as the Snowy Plover next on the ground in the dunes and if you are lucky enough to spot a baby Snowy Plover (looks like a cotton ball running on toothpick legs), then it's easy to appreciate protecting their habitat.

The 2015 Turtle Nesting Season on Sanibel resulted in the highest number of nests ever counted on our beaches since the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation has been collecting data. This dramatic increase in nesting along the Sanibel and Captiva shoreline may correlate to 30 years of Sea Turtle nest protection by SCCF since it take turtles about 25 to 30 years to reach sexual maturity. We may be witnessing the benefits of Sea Turtle nest protection and dark sky ordinance and compliance by island residents.

Many properties on Sanibel and Captiva are also pet friendly.

Photo: Pfeifer Family Dogs "Truffles" and "Cappie" with "Peep" a Muscovy Duck rescued by John Pfeifer from the middle of US 41 during rush hour. Peep stayed with our family until she went to live on a farm in North Fort Myers. Peep now has her own ducklings.

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