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Photo by Deny Howeth​​ - Advertisement -
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Larry the Security Cat
Owner Theresa Owens of BLUvintage in Dover discovered stray cat Larry, who she originally named Limpin’ Larry because he had a bad broken leg, would limp and hiss. Even though she’s allergic to cats, Owens snuck antibiotics into the domestic shorthair’s food to nurse him back to health. Now the 6-year-old is thriving. “He receives gifts (like a Hawaiian shirt) and treats in the mail from customers and fans,” Owens says. “His scars add to his character.”
Follow Larry on Instagram @larry_the_security_cat. (He’s up to 3,000 followers.)
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Photo by Deny Howeth​​ - Partner Content -
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Misako and Naveed
Misako is a Japanese name that means “ocean sand child.” Naveed is Arabic for “good news forthcoming.” The two Blue Point Himalayans share the same father, says Marcia Reed, who got them from a breeder in Califon, New Jersey. The siblings have gone to work with Reed at Gallery 37—A Destination for Artful Living in Milford since Day One. “They know the sound of my keys and run into their carriers,” she says. Reed describes Misako, 3, as “an independent gal.” Naveed, 2, is “trusting of everyone.” When they aren’t sleeping in the front window, they love to squish themselves into boxes that arrive from Amazon. Though Gallery 37 is filled with tons of precious art, Reed never worries about her cats breaking anything: “These cats don’t jump on anything but two chairs and the window.”
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Photo by Deny Howeth​​ |
Porter
Six-year-old Labrador retriever Porter has been going to work at Veritas Wine & Craft Beer in Wilmington since the day owner Venu Gaddamidi picked him up from a breeder in Pennsylvania. Gaddamidi says his regular customers love hanging out with Porter. “When people meet him for the first time, they are taken aback by having a dog in a shop. But it brightens their day and their quick visit turns into a 10-minute petting session.” Porter loves to sleep, but he also loves attention and kids. “He has a comfy bed at the shop on which he has the most interesting sleeping position—on his back with his legs in random extensions,” says Gaddamidi.
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Therapy animals are a perfect comfort for those in need.
Every day, patients at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Middletown are struggling to recover from a stroke, brain injury or hip fracture. Twenty miles up the road, patients are being treated at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center. Many are looking for a distraction from the pain, discomfort and sadness they feel.
Enter Katara. The 3-year-old German shepherd is a certified therapy dog with PAWS for People (Pet-Assisted Visitation Volunteer Services), a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides seniors, children and folks with disabilities therapeutic visits with a gentle, affectionate pet.
Katara has been a therapy pet with PAWS since she was 4-months-old. Owner Becky Cronin of Townsend got her certified soon after she adopted her. “I said to my neighbor that she’s so calm, I have to do something with her. My neighbor said, ‘Make her a therapy dog.’ So I looked it up, and PAWS came up,” Cronin says.
Lynne Robinson founded PAWS in 2005 after realizing the tremendous power of pet therapy, including benefits such as lower blood pressure, less anxiety and greater feelings of comfort. But don’t confuse therapy pets with service animals. “A service dog is specially trained for one individual,” Robinson says. “That dog can assist that one individual and cannot be pet because that dog is supposed to be paying 100 percent attention to its person. A therapy dog is a regular household pet that is friendly and adorable that can be pet and loved by anyone.”
PAWS has more than 500 therapy teams that visit 165 sites. The teams include hundreds of dogs, eight or nine cats—even a handful of bunnies. “We consider ourselves paws, not claws,” Robinson says.
What she means is that there is no such thing as an ideal breed for therapy dogs. Sure, there are plenty of soft golden retrievers and happy Labradors. “But we’ve got everything from Great Danes to St. Bernards to Great Pyrenees. It’s not based on breed. It’s based on personality,” says Robinson.
Take Katara. She isn’t fierce or aggressive—traits commonly associated with her breed. “She is very elegant and walks like a runway model,” Cronin says. “And she’s so gentle and reserved. She lays down next to people and draws people in.”
Katara and Cronin make weekly visits to the Graham Cancer Center, and they participate in the PAWS for Reading program at Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library in Odessa every other week. “Little kids sign up to read to Katara,” says Cronin. “It’s so cute.”
Katara isn’t Cronin’s only certified therapy dog. Robbie, a 5-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and Goslar, a 10-month-old German shepherd, also make the rounds. They are both well known and loved at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital.
Certification is a two-step process, says Robinson. Those interested in participating must first attend an orientation. Then pets and owners must pass a certification test. “We test about 25 behaviors for dogs and we like to see how the person interacts with the animal—do they yell? Are they aggressive?”
All members must have a dog license, proof of a recent rabies vaccination and distemper plus a whole evaluation from a veterinarian that says the animal is healthy (this includes a fecal sample). “Members must also sign a contract that says they use flea and tick preventative and keep their animals clean—we are pretty thorough on that,” says Robinson.
Members must also agree to two visits a month, but Cronin and her dogs give as much time as their schedules allow. “I truly love giving back to the community and I love my dogs, so this is my opportunity to marry my two loves,” she says.
Members pay a yearly fee of $50, but Robinson says the impact the members are making on the community is priceless. “We will make special request visits. One day a family called to say their little girl has cancer and all she wants to do is play with a kitty cat. It had to get done fast. She was only 5-years-old, but we were able to give the family what they needed,” says Robinson.
Faithful Friends Animal Society— a private, nonprofit animal welfare organization with a no-kill shelter in Wilmington—also has a pet therapy program with 120 volunteers who serve 63 facilities.
Like PAWS, Faithful Friends has mostly dogs in the program, though there are about five therapy cats in the program at any given time. “We also evaluate our shelter pets (dogs and cats) who have shining personalities that would do well in therapy work,” says Shannon O’Neill, director of development and public relations. “Currently, we have about 10 shelter dogs approved to participate in the program.”
Joe Case of Hockessin started volunteering at Faithful Friends when his daughter started working there. When he learned about the pet therapy program, he enrolled his daughter’s two cats, Sammy and Paddington, who are both rescues. “Sammy is a brown, long-haired tabby from Forgotten Cats. He’s very affectionate and likes to rub up against you,” Case says. “Paddington is a domestic shorthair from Faithful Friends. He’s laid-back and likes to sit in people’s laps.”
Case takes Sammy and Paddington to Hillside Center in Wilmington, a nursing and rehabilitation facility, two to three times a month. He says most of the residents are overjoyed to see the felines, but he admits some of the residents just don’t like cats.
“I guess people are more open to dogs than cats,” says Case. “But I like to use these animals as an icebreaker.”
Case says he’s always been an animal lover, but as he gets older, he finds that cats are a little easier to take care of than dogs. “I always had dogs [growing up]. I had a Border collie that I used to take to work with me. But I find cats are a little more wild and can do their own thing. But they still bring joy into someone’s life, even if it’s just for five minutes.”
Visit pawsforpeople.org and faithfulfriends.us for more information.
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This activity often leads to lasting relationships for pets and people.
Naomi Girke has taken Atticus, a 4-year-old Labrador-Staffordshire-Boston Terrier mix, to Banning Park Dog Park in Newport for almost a year. During the summer, they frequent the park two to three days a week.
“We have a lot of good relationships with the people and the dogs,” says Girke, who used to go to Elsmere Dog Park before moving closer to Banning. “The first few times we went to Banning, there were lots of people from Elsmere, so it was a little bit like a reunion,” she says. “You go and you hang out with the people just as much as the dogs hang out with each other.”
There’s Ozzy the mixed breed and Astro the Great Dane. There’s Lucy, a sweet Shih Tzu mix. Girke says she has made at least two friends at the park that have developed into close personal relationships. There is a great deal of dog talk at the park (she runs her own web-based pets’ accessory business called Bow Tie Atticus), she says, but it’s not all about the animals. She will often invite her companions out to gigs when her musician-husband performs. She will often text, “Hey I’m heading over to Banning, will I see you there?” before she and Atticus make the trip.
Girke is a fan of Banning for many reasons. For one, it is equipped with water fountains. “A lot of people don’t bring their own water.” She also appreciates that the park is mulched. “A lot of dog parks are grass, and you don’t know what they are using as a weed killer, which can be harmful to dogs.” She also likes that the park is fenced, which prevents pets from running into traffic.
Anne Klein of Claymont calls Rockford Park in Wilmington “doggie heaven.” She and her 17-month-old Labrador retriever, Casey Jones, visit twice a week all year-round. “You see all types of dogs, from purebreds to mixed puppies,” says Klein.
Klein takes Casey Jones to the park to encourage socialization. When he was a puppy, another dog “nipped his ear” at Rockford. “But now that he’s older, he gets along with everyone,” she says.
Girke says it’s important to understand your dog’s personality and to be aware of any signs that he isn’t enjoying himself at the park. “Atticus is a very social dog, but he doesn’t get in other dog’s faces,” she says. They will usually leave when there are more than eight dogs at the park. “It gets to be too much, especially when they start running in a pack,” she says.
Michelle Kramer Fitzgerald and Eli, her 2-year-old Pointer-Australian shepherd mix, haven’t had any bad experiences at their favorite dog park, Talley Day Bark Park off of Foulk Road, which they visit about four times a week. “It’s a great outlet for Eli,” says Kramer Fitzgerald. “It’s a safe and fun place for him to socialize, exercise and expend some of his high energy.”
She likes to go in the mornings, which has a very regular crew of people and dogs. “The pups are all around the same age, many are from area rescues, and the dog moms and dads are very considerate, congenial and caring. We look after each other’s dogs—at the park and out—we keep tabs on one another’s lives and happenings, and have lively discussions about the arts, politics, travel, jobs and family.”
But Eli definitely has his share of friends, too. “His pal Atlas is a great match for him,” Kramer Fitzgerald says. “They both like to roughhouse and wrestle. His first park pal was Henny, a lovely girl hound he met when he first came to the park.”
In the end, Kramer Fitzgerald treasures her time spent with Eli. “It’s a fun thing we do together. I like the people and their dogs. We have great conversation, our pups all like each other and we like each other. It’s a win-win.”
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Services to keep your pet clean, lean and cared for.
Research assistance by Brandon Holveck
WALKERS & SITTERS
New Castle County
Camp Bow Wow
301 Ruthar Drive, Newark, 738-2267
Content Critter
New Castle County and parts of Pennsylvania, 235-7387
Dogtopia
2101-A Concord Pike, Wilmington, 622-8388; 319 New Road, Wilmington, 414-0556
For the Love of Dogs
Wilmington, 287-0821
Happy Hound Cat and Dog Service
Newark, 383-1511
Pets Love Amy
Wilmington, (510) 984-4738
Riverfront Pets
311 Justison St., Wilmington, 428-9777
Wilmington Dog Walking Services
Wilmington, 309-9951
Your Pet’s Best Friend
Wilmington, 379-5501
Kent County
Claws and Paws Pet Sitting
319 Squawigm Road, Dover, 632-7366
The Delaware Kritter Sitter
Box 162, Woodside, 387-1886
Sussex County
Dewey Dogs at the Beach
Dewey Beach, 310-2174
For Your Spot
494-9449
Happy Paws Dog Walking
36 Turtle Dove Drive, Rehoboth Beach, (301) 325-8397
Walk ‘n Wag
21256 M St., Rehoboth Beach, 200-0546
GROOMERS
New Castle County
Anita’s Animal Antics
124 Mario Drive, Bear, 544-4971
At Your Door Mobile Pet Waggin’
378-6125
Back to Nature Pets & Grooming
110 N. Dupont Hwy., New Castle, 328-5538
Barks n’ Bubbles Dog Grooming
1157 Yorklyn Road, Hockessin, 547-3956
Camp Bow Wow
301 Ruthar Drive, Newark, 738-2267
Charmed Paws Mobile Pet Spa
415-2104
Crazy Cats Dirty Dogs
mobile, 421-9870
The Dirty Dog
11D Liberty Plaza Newark, 738-6399
The Dog Stop
101 Greenbank Road, Wilmington, 416-4646
Doggie Heaven Grooming Salon
1204 Delaware St., No. 1m, New Castle, 544-5100
Doggie Style Grooming
950 Ridge Road, No. D18, Claymont, 798-1810
Dogtopia
2101-A Concord Pike, Wilmington, 622-8388; 319 New Road, Wilmington, 414-0556
Ellie’s Paws-n-Claws
717 Pulaski Hwy., Bear, 323-1880
Fluff Pet Salon and Boutique
1704 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, 798-7297
Hannah’s House Kennel for Dogs
2309 Red Lion Road, Bear, 832-9495
Muddy Paws Pet Salon
2118 Silverside Road, No. 1C, Wilmington, 477-6995
Pampered Pets Grooming Spa
78 Clinton St., Delaware City, 834-8065
Paws and People Too
4390 Summit Bridge Road, Middletown, 376-8234
Precious Paws
501 Kirkwood Hwy., Wilmington, 996-9274
Pups Place
698 Wilmington Road, New Castle, 322-9757
Rainbow Scissors and Suds
790 Old Porter Road, Bear, 365-6377
Riverfront Pets
311 Justison St., Wilmington, 428-9777
Tally Ho Mobile Pet Stylist
832-6200
Top Dog Self Wash
1516 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, 791-0900
Quad Squads Tiny Paws
mobile, 723-2861
Kent County
A Natural Paw
1231 S. Dupont Blvd., Smyrna, 653-0400
The Bath House Inc.
49 Brenda Lane, Suite E, Camden, 734-9119
Custom Canine Grooming & Boarding
1266 Moose Lodge Road, Wyoming, 697-6936
Dippity Doo Dawg​
64 Plum Drive, Magnolia, 698-3813
Furry Tails Grooming Salon
4430 Halltown Road, Hartly, 233-2086
Hair of the Dog
23 Cochran Lane, Camden, 249-5330
Happy Tails Dog Grooming
10 Commerce St., Harrington, 786-2528
Head to Tail Grooming
3664 Bay Road, Milford, 335-5739
Pam’s Grooming
4393 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover, 744-9919
Scruffy to Fluffy
17 Village Square, Smyrna, 653-7297
Star Mobile Pet Salon
653-7387
Top Knot Canine Center
2615 N. Little Creek Road, Dover, 678-0444
Westwind Kennel
414 Valley Mist Drive, Clayton, 659-5161
Sussex County
A Comfy Pet Grooming Salon
6 College Park Lane, Georgetown; 22935 John J. Williams Hwy., Millsboro; 104 Federal St., Milton, 945-4645
All Abroad Grooming & Kennels
32978 Dupont Blvd., Dagsboro, 732-9268
Bark-n-Park Mobile Grooming
24175 Celtic St., Georgetown, 549-1003
Camp Canine Kennel
21275 Burton Road, Milton, 684-1151
Canine Cabin
16701 Sand Hill Road, Milton, 684-1631
Canine Couture Expert Grooming
217 N. Rehoboth Blvd., Milford, 500-1814
Claire’s Pet Salon
28777 Dupont Blvd., Millsboro, 934-5010
Dirty Dog Grooming Salon
37385 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 226-1364
Doggies at the Beach
18806 John J. Williams Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, 644-8200
Dog Grooming by Rose
26631 Castaway Circle, Long Neck, 947-2738
Groomingdale’s Pet Salon and Spa
33739 Marsh Road, Lewes, 313-4038
La Bella Bete Pet Grooming
628 Milford Harrington Hwy., Suite 5, Milford, 644-2572
MadiLin’s Pooch Pawlour
33671 Milspaw Roots Lane, Dagsboro, 541-5100
Neverland Kennel and Cattery Inc.
34377 Neverland Lane, Lewes, 645-6140
The Pet Bow-tique​
18355 County Seat Hwy., Georgetown, 856-7297
The Pet Station
1152 Savannah Road, Lewes, 644-7297
Robin’s Pet Grooming
16487 Sussex Hwy., Unit 2, Bridgeville, 337-3037
The Salty Dog Grooming Salon
19470 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, 227-9070
Scrub-a-Dub Pet Salon
36747 Breakwater Run, Selbyville, 436-9227
Seaside Pet Salon & Spa
1604 Savannah Road, Unit A, Lewes, 644-1727
Wags to Riches Pet Grooming
36656 Lighthouse Road, Suite 2, Selbyville, 436-4766
Wizard of Paws II
32369 Long Neck Road, #16, Millsboro, 947-9299
BOARDING
New Castle County
Bark Avenue Dog Day Camp
100 Naamans Road, Building 2-A, Claymont, 792-2403
Camp Bow Wow
301 Ruthar Drive, Newark, 738-2267​
Hannah’s House Kennel for Dogs
2309 Red Lion Road, Bear, 832-9495
Happy Hound Cat and Dog Service
383-1511
Rainbow Kennels
2131 Pleasant Valley Road, Newark, 738-0864
Square Dog Ranch
383 Maryland Line Road, Townsend, 449-2275
Kent County
Animal Inn
2308 Seeneytown Road, Dover, 653-5560
Best Boarding Kennel
682 Bison Road, Dover, 697-2002
Big Oak Dog Kennels
191 Chappel Yeatman Road, Smyrna, 653-6113
Blue Rock Kennel
870 Smyrna Landing Road, Smyrna, 399-5039
Happy Paws Pet Boarding
2427 Flat Iron Road, Harrington, 604-2458
Westwind Kennel
414 Valley Mist Drive, Clayton, 659-5161
Sussex County
All Aboard Grooming & Kennels
32978 Dupont Blvd., Dagsboro, 732-9268
Bed & Biscuit Kennel
32453 McCary Road, Frankford, 436-1668
Camp Canine Kennel
21275 Burton Road, Milton, 684-1151
Canine Cabin
16701 Sand Hill Road, Milton, 684-1631
Doggies at the Beach
18806 John J. Williams Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, 644-8200
Happy Tails Pet Retreat
19330 Shingle Point Road, Georgetown, 856-7900
Neverland Kennel and Cattery Inc.
34377 Neverland Lane, Lewes, 645-6140
Shawnee Kennels
6729 Shawnee Road, Milford, 422-2355​
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Support your local shelter at any of these fun-filled fundraisers.
Animal shelters often rely on support from the community—they are private nonprofits that are funded through donations, grants, fees for services and special events. If you can’t adopt, consider supporting your local shelter at any of these fun-filled fundraisers.
Tails Around the Green: Sept. 10
The Delaware Humane Association’s Inaugural Golf Tournament will take place at Newark Country Club. Tee up to help provide food, shelter and medical care to the 1,500 animals who pass through the shelter’s doors every year. Registration and lunch begin at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start beginning at 12:20 p.m.
Visit delawarehumane.org/events/golf to sign up.
Dewey Golden Retriever Jubilee: Sept. 28-30 and May 10-12, 2019
This twice-a-year celebration of the furry golden includes fun activities on Dewey’s dog-friendly beaches.
Visit deweysgoldenjubilee.com for a schedule and more information.
Faithful Friends 5K Run/Walk and Mutt Mile: Sept. 30
Bring your whole family (pups included) and run or walk Bellevue State Park’s beautiful and scenic cross-country course. There’s also a leisurely Mutt Mile. Create a team in honor of your own pet, or promote a shelter pet—the overall highest fundraising team wins a team dinner.
Visit faithfulfriends.us/events for more information and to sign up.
Forget-Me-Not Gala: Sept. 30
It’s the 30th anniversary of the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s signature event, which gives patrons a chance to dress to the nines and enjoy a fabulous night out, all for a good cause. This year’s Forget-Me-Not Gala will be held at Mendenhall Inn.
Visit bvspca.org/events/signature-events for more.
Greyhounds Reach the Beach: Oct. 4-7
Held in Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach, this event brings greyhound owners and their hounds together. It features top speakers from the greyhound and sighthound world, including behaviorists, veterinarians, counselors, adoption professionals and international breed experts.
Visit grtb.org/home.html to register.
Best Friends Pet Expo: Oct. 20
Take your four-legged friend to The Green in downtown Dover for a day of fun. There will be vendors, food trucks, giveaways, door prizes, demonstrations and entertainment. The free event runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m., rain or shine.
Visit delmarvaevents.net/e/bestfriendspetexpo to learn more.
PAWS for People’s Wag-n-Walk and 5K: Oct. 20
This is PAWS’ biggest fundraiser of the year. The 10th annual event takes place at Delcastle Recreational Park and is filled with entertainment, food, vendors and plenty of doggie games and contests.
For more information, visit pawsforpeople.org/wagnwalk.
Benefit For the Birds: Nov. 9
Cats and dogs aren’t the only ones who need our help. Don’t miss Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research’s biggest benefit of the year. Held at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, enjoy dinner and dancing and bid on tons of silent “hawk-tion” items.
Check out tristatebird.org to learn more.
Shopping Event at Ten Thousand Villages: Date TBD
Forgotten Cats partners with the local crafts and housewares shop twice a year (usually December and May) for this fun fundraiser. The store will donate 15 percent of the day’s total sales to Forgotten Cats. You can even meet and play with adoptable cats while you shop.
Visit forgottencats.org/events.php for more information.
Doodles in Dewey Doodle Romp: DATE TBD
Considered the largest doodle get-together in the country, this weekend gathering features Yappy Hour, a costume parade and yoga on the beach. All money left over from the setup of the romp goes directly to Food & Friends, a nonprofit that provides healthy meals, groceries and nutrition counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other illnesses.
Visit doodlesindewey.org for information on next year’s event.
Dover Days Pet Parade: Date TBD
The annual Dover Days festival invites you and your animal companion to the Pet Parade sponsored by the Delmarva Region of National Capital Therapy Dogs. The event takes place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at American Avenue in Dover.
Visit nctdinc.org to learn more.
Furry 5K: Date TBD
The Delaware SPCA held its first 5K in May to benefit the animals at the Stanton shelter. Held at Glasgow Park, participants also got to shake paws with some of the shelter’s most-adoptable animals. The Delaware SPCA is the oldest animal welfare organization in the state (145-years-old to be exact).
Visit delspca.org.
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Here are a few places where you can both can make friends.
New Castle County
Banning Park Dog Park
Open daily dawn-dusk. In addition to the pet area, Banning is home to Little League fields, tennis courts, a volleyball court, walking trails and more.
102 Middleboro Road, Wilmington, 395-5606
Brandywine Park Off-Leash Area
Open daily 8 a.m.-sunset. The area designated for off-leash pets is not fenced. Look for it fronting 18th Street.
1080 N. Park Drive, Wilmington, 577-7020
Carousel Bark Park
Open daily from dawn until dusk. The dog park at Carousel Farms is one of Delaware’s largest, allowing dogs to roam through a large open field around a pond.
3700 Limestone Road, Wilmington
Elsmere Dog Park
Open daily 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m., the park features sections for small dogs and larger dogs—as well as a canopy area with basic equipment for agility training.
116 Western Ave., Elsmere
Glasgow Regional Park
Open daily from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. In addition to the dog park, which is divided for small and large dogs, Glasgow Regional Park offers walking paths, a skate park, basketball and tennis courts and pavilions.
2275 Pulaski Hwy., Glasgow, 395-5606
Iron Hill Dog Park
Open daily from dawn until dusk. This park features separate sections for small and large dogs.
1355 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark
Levels Road Dog Park
Open daily 7 a.m.-sunset. The Charles Price Memorial Park at Levels Road features a 5-acre fenced-in area for large dogs and a 3-acre fenced-in area for small dogs, plus water fountains for dogs and handlers.
900 Levels Road, Middletown
Lums Pond Dog Park
Open daily 8 a.m.-sunset, the park features an open grass field and access to the pond for swimming. Park fees in effect March 1-Dec. 1.
1068 Howell School Road, Bear
Rockford Park
Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, the off-leash section of Rockford Park can be found next to the intersection of Red Oak Road and Park Drive.
L​​ookout Drive, Wilmington, 577-7020
Talley Day Bark Park
Open daily from 6 a.m.-6 p.m., this was the first fenced-in dog park in New Castle County. There are separate areas for big dogs and for little dogs.
1300 Foulk Road, Wilmington, 395-5720
Kent County
Brecknock County Park
Open daily 6 a.m.-8 p.m., the park features a playground, open fields and wooded trails.
80 Old Camden Road, Camden, 744-2495
Browns Branch County Park
Open daily sunrise to sunset, Browns Branch County Park is suitable for walking your dog over 30 acres of open plains or splashing in the cool creek. There are also dog water fountains.
1415 Killens Pond Road, Harrington, 744-2495
Tidbury Park
Open daily 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Complete with a pavilion, playground, volleyball courts and trails.
2233 S. State St., Dover, 744-2495
Silver Lake County Park
Open daily dawn to dusk, Silver Lake offers 182 acres of lake and parkland as well as a modern playground, pavilions and walking paths.
1011 N. State St., Dover, 736-7050
Sussex County
Lewes Unleashed Dog Park
Open daily from dawn to dusk, all visitors must be registered members. The park is built on four acres in the Great Marsh Park and features multiple play areas, agility training and more.
114 E. Third St., Lewes
Milford Bark Park
Open daily sunrise to sunset. No human or dog food, including treats, are allowed in the park.
1 Marshall St., Milford, 422-1104
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Dogs and beaches go together like crabs and beer. Just make sure you follow the rules.
STATE PARK BEACHES
Pets are allowed in Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware Seashore State Park and Fenwick Island State Park, but they are prohibited from swimming, sunbathing, surfing and sailboarding beaches May 1-Sept. 30. Pets are permitted on all beaches Oct. 1-April 30. Pets are prohibited in shorebird nesting areas. All pets must be licensed. Proof of a rabies vaccine is required. Pets are not permitted on bathhouse boardwalks. Clean up after your pet and never leave them unattended.
MUNICIPAL BEACHES
Bethany Beach: No dogs on the beach or boardwalk at any time May 15-Sept. 30.
Dewey Beach: Dogs are allowed before 9:30 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m. May 15-Sept. 15. Dogs are allowed year-round by special license, available at town hall.
Fenwick Island: No animals at any time. May 1-Sept. 30.
Lewes: Dogs are prohibited on all beaches 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. May 1-Sept. 30.
Rehoboth Beach: No animals on the beach or the boardwalk at any time May 1-Sept. 30. Dogs must be on a leash at all times and cleaned up after.
