Feelings among dog owners about Dog Beach are extremely mixed. As a day-and-night leash-free area for dogs, the beach receives tremendous use. Unfortunately, a few irresponsible dog owners can ruin an outing for everyone. For some dog owners, it seems just too much for them to clean up after their own dogs.
Some people find Dog Beach just too polluted, since all the run-off from San Diego flows down the San Diego river (the river is really more run-off than water) flows into the Pacific at that point. The water can smell pretty bad, and sometimes, there is pile of brown foam (which actually has nothing to do with the dogs, but has to to do with the ocean itself).
Dog Beach separates Mission Beach from Ocean Beach. A very, very long time ago (before I was born, so my son would say this is correfct), Ocean Beach and Mission Beach were actually connected by a footbridge. Most people in OB are glad this no longer exists.
As far as the polluted water, unfortunately, it is probably from the dogs. Someone I knew once checked the water a mile upstream, and it was completely clean. The water at Dog Beach is full of bacteria from the dogs. Could you get sick from being exposed to this? Possibly, but in fact, did you know it is really hard to pick up something like that from a dog.
My own son actually learned to swim at Dog Beach, despite the nagging protests from his mother. It is very protected, and a safe place to swim. Since I DETEST chlorine and swimming pools, I much prefer that children learn to swim here.
We used this beach long before we ever had a dog. But if you have a lab, as we do, who gets somewhat distracted from chasing a ball--here is a little hint. Make a mudball and throw it where your lab got distracted from chasing the ball. The mudball will disappear of course (magic to the dog), but then your dog can find the ball he or she just lost. Just a suggestion.
God I am fat now!!!! I have been on various combinations of pills and infusions for almost 6 years, and my weight has varied from 165 to 220!!! mostly because of the steroids that are part of each and every single therapy!!! and that I have to have constant blood transfusions..so usually it is just very hard to exercise..walking a block can leave me exhausted..oh well..Just glad I am still alive and hanging in there.
