Dogs and Dauphin Island have been longtime companions, and now that the threat of oil from off shore has dissipated, the upper Gulf coast’s most dog friendly beaches are again open to man’s best friend.

The powdery, white sand shore at Dauphin Island, Alabama has long been known for being the most welcoming on the Gulf coast.  “We love animals here on Dauphin Island,” said Mike Henderson, executive director of the Dauphin Island Parks and Beach Board.

Dog friendly public beaches have been a major draw of Dauphin Island for many years, and as neighboring destinations have restricted the canine companions, the number of dog loving visitors has steadily increased.  “To be perfectly honest, we may be the only dog friendly beach left along this part of the Gulf coast,” Henderson said. “I don’t believe that you can bring your dog to the beaches [...]