NORFOLK, Va. — Cayla Harper’s two jobs require her to keep her cool. She interacts with the public, helping people in distress, even saving lives as she splits her summer weeks between working as a firefighter/medic and a lifeguard supervisor.
But there’s one thing that really bothers her: owners bringing their dogs to the beach when the sand is hot.
“It sends me through the roof,” she said.
Harper, 30, is on a mission to inform beachgoers that the sand can reach scorching temperatures and will burn their pets’ paw pads. She loves dogs and takes her black German shepherd to the North End on cool evenings. And while water rescue is her main focus when she patrols the beach on an all-terrain vehicle, she carries an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of the sand.
On a recent sunny afternoon, it was 145 degrees.
Animals are prohibited on the resort area beach — from First to 42nd streets — from the Friday before Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Bringing a pet there can result in a fine up to $250.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the Boardwalk from 6 to 10 a.m., and on other city the beaches before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
And while the rule is posted in small print on the bottom of signs at the beach entrances, Harper said over the last few years some people either don’t know they’re breaking the law or don’t care.
“Owning a dog has gotten a lot more popular,” Harper said. “Everybody wants to bring their dog with them everywhere now.”
Harper said recently she saw a dog whimpering as it tried to keep its paws off the sand. She carried the puppy off of the beach.
“Most of the time, owners are oblivious especially if they have shoes on,” she said. “Take your shoes off; if it’s uncomfortable, it’s too hot for dogs.”
When Harper sees someone with a dog, she shows them how hot the sand is registering on her thermometer.
“It gives people some concrete evidence,” she said.
Still, not everybody wants to comply.
“You do get the people who are angry or upset because you’re ruining their beach day,” Harper said.
That’s when she calls for reinforcement.
Animal Control Officer Andrew Equels also patrols the beach on an ATV, and sometimes Harper calls him or police officers when people refuse to take their dogs off the beach.
“We ask that the dog be removed,” Equels said. “They can receive a summons if they refuse to comply.”
