By sheer happenstance we met longtime Isle of Palms resident Patty Randinelli while shooting photos for our August Island Vibes cover. Randinelli and her 10-year-old golden retriever, Piper, walk to the beach every morning, and when Randinelli is babysitting her daughter Caroline’s dogs – 2-year-old Minnow and 4-year-old Palmer, she brings the entire, extraordinarily lucky and well-behaved trio for their morning ritual. Affectionately called the “matriarch” of the jubilant group, Piper kept perfect pace with her younger playmates as they enjoyed the off-leash hours at the beach.
Each dog we met had a unique backstory. Palmer was a breeding mama in Romania, and it is unknown exactly how many litters she had while there. She was later sold to a breeder in Denver and had two litters before they stopped using her for breeding because of an eye condition called entropion. Randinelli explained, “It’s a painful condition where a dog’s eyelid rolls inward, causing fur and lashes to rub against the cornea.” After Palmer was rescued in Denver and brought to Mount Pleasant, veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Anne Cook performed the surgery to correct the condition. Randinelli’s daughter, a veterinarian at Charleston Harbor Veterinarians in downtown Charleston, adopted Palmer shortly thereafter. Now Palmer spends her days running along the beach, chasing tennis balls and swimming like an Olympian.
We encountered several new friends including Dixon, an energetic Boykin spaniel; a hound dog named Copper who was quite vocal about her approval of her morning beach excursion; an Aussie named Dakota who wanted everyone to stay in one tight group; and two beautiful and playful mutts – Daisy May and Pepper Pots. There were too many dogs and stories to count, each one as special and endearing as the next. People and their best friends enjoying the island and the beach and mingling and interacting while making the most of the time allotted to be free from being leashed.
Rescued, purebred, mutt – each dog had their own story about how he or she came to be a beach pup, but one theme rang out–gratitude. The vibe amongst the dogs and owners alike during off-leash hours is light and friendly. From island residents to locals from over the Connector to vacationers, people echoed the sentiment of how thankful they were for the dog-friendly atmosphere on the Isle of Palms beaches and especially for the freedom off-leash hours provides. Not every municipality is dog-friendly and not every beach allows dogs, let alone dogs off-leash. It became abundantly clear that the Isle of Palms is a standout in that regard.
During our brief time on the beach in the early morning hours we were fortunate enough to see groups of friends meeting to let their dogs play together, strangers conversing about the joy that comes from running freely on the beach and swimming in the ocean, and visitors from all around the Lowcountry who regularly make the trek to experience the incredible atmosphere of our dog-friendly coast.
Not only are the Isle of Palms beaches dog-friendly, many of the restaurants here are too. Coconut Joe’s offers a dog-friendly rooftop deck and lower patio as well as a dedicated dog menu. The Dinghy, Smuggler’s Island Eats and Sea Biscuit Café offer dog-friendly covered patios while Lawrence’s Seafood Company offers a dog-friendly outdoor area and specialized dog menu. Islander 71 Fish House features an expansive dog-friendly outdoor pavilion, and The Outpost keeps water bowls filled with fresh water for their canine patrons.
For another off-leash opportunity, locals and visitors alike appreciate the Isle of Palms Recreation Department Bark Park. This community recreation area hosts a welcome respite for dogs to play off-leash in two separate areas – one for large and one for small dogs. The space features pet and human drinking fountains and multiple waste stations, making this area a nice alternative to beach walking.
There was a palpable, almost indescribable energy surrounding the large group of dogs assembled at the beach access at 23rd Avenue on the morning of our cover photo shoot – a playful spirit combined with quiet appreciation and stark happiness and joy.
By Laura Fogarty
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