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HILLSBORO BEACH — Dogs may be allowed to hit the beach in this town — as long as they come with a leash, a permit and observe particular rules.

A committee was designated at Tuesday’s Hillsboro Beach Town Commission meeting to craft some rules that would allow for leashed dogs to run along the expanse between the ocean and the tide’s high water line at certain times. Right now, they can only romp on the private area that comes with the town’s mansions and condominiums. The committee will go before the commission at its next regular meeting in September with a pro- posal.

Hillsboro Beach resident Al Shore said he is against changing the ordinance and warned that sanctioning dogs on the beach could make the current situation worse.

“We have an ordinance [against dogs on the beach] and it’s not unique,” he said, saying that he’s loved dogs throughout his life. “I sit there and I see five different animals. Some are being picked up after, some are not.” Dog owners from the town coastal town said that State Road A1A was not quite as busy decades ago, when the Town Commission prohibited dogs from trotting along the seawater line. The beach has become the only place for safe walking, some say. “You take your life into your hands when you go out on the street where we’re supposed to go,” said Elizabeth Langsenkamp, speaking on behalf of her Labradoodle, Steely.

Hillsboro Beach wouldn’t be the only municipality to allow dogs on its sands.

Hollywood allowed dogs on the beach between Pershing and Custer streets in 2006. Fort Lauderdale followed in 2012, allowing dogs to go on the beach from the centerline of Sunrise Boulevard and A1A, north100 yards on the beach.

And Boca Raton started allowing it on a 300-yard stretch north of Spanish River Boulevard for weekend hours in December 2013.

ageggis@sun-sentinel.com, 561-243-6624 or Twitter @AnneBoca

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