WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C (WECT) – Wrightsville Beach leaders considered whether to loosen the town’s long-running restrictions on dogs on the beach, with opinions split between quality-of-life arguments and concerns about enforcement, waste and wildlife protections.
The Dogs on the Beach Working Group, formed at the direction of the Board of Aldermen in fall 2025, reviewed the town’s existing dogs-on-the-beach ordinance and debated whether changes were needed to better reflect community interests.
The group included six residents, two town staff members and representatives from Audubon North Carolina and the Sea Turtle Project. The town manager said membership was intentionally balanced among residents who supported expanding dog access, those who opposed it and those who were undecided…