Connecticut State Parks pet policy

We won't be stopping in Conn.

I understand where you are coming from poodlecamper1, but I didn't want an out of state camper to think that all Connecticut campgrounds, state and private, restrict dogs.

Tvov wrote:

WrongWayRandall wrote:
In planning various vacations/camping trips we have often discounted Conn. for that very reason. It's too bad really, because it's a very pretty place to visit and the people have always been friendly to us when we have passed through on our way to other destinations....

There are plenty of private campgrounds here in Connecticut that allow and even welcome pets - and the private campgrounds have full hookups. Most Connecticut state parks have extremely limited hookups, vast majority of state campsites are dry camping. My understanding is that hookups (at least electric and water) are being added to many state park

s over the next few years.

We prefer state parks to private parks, hence this thread. Electric/water is not the issue

WrongWayRandall,
I have tried the hand written letter, as I reasoned the same.
We've stayed in VA state parks, you are correct re: the dog fee, I believe we stayed a week or so and paid the maximum of $15.00 for one dog. Beautiful park system. PA tried dog loops in a few parks, and when it worked out well, expanded the number of parks that had dog loops.

WrongWayRandall wrote:
In planning various vacations/camping trips we have often discounted Conn. for that very reason. It's too bad really, because it's a very pretty place to visit and the people have always been friendly to us when we have passed through on our way to other destinations....

There are plenty of private campgrounds here in Connecticut that allow and even welcome pets - and the private campgrounds have full hookups. Most Connecticut state parks have extremely limited hookups, vast majority of state campsites are dry camping. My understanding is that hookups (at least electric and water) are being added to many state parks over the next few years.

In planning various vacations/camping trips we have often discounted Conn. for that very reason. It's too bad really, because it's a very pretty place to visit and the people have always been friendly to us when we have passed through on our way to other destinations.

Usually when we pass on a state for dog related issues (Virginia, for example, charges extra per night per pet!) we write to a couple of State officials to let them know why we will be spending our tourism dollars in surrounding states. Also, I always hand-write because I have heard from various government employees in multiple states that hand written letters carry a lot more weight since they take more effort to generate (if someone emails it's not considered worth a lot, but if someone takes time to sit down and write a letter then they must feel fairly strongly about the subject matter.)

- Randy

poodlecamper1 wrote:
Hi, original poster here. I've given up on the State park/dog camping campaign. We are moving away from CT, and will be enjoying lots of dog friendly state park camping in other areas and paying less for it, as well as living where leashed dogs are allowed on the beach, and unleashed at specified times.Seems to work out at other locations without mountains of dog doo being left.

Interesting factoid, Chicago has an extensive beach system on Lake Michigan, only a few allow dogs. They do routine testing for bacteria and close beaches when e.coli counts get too high. The dog beaches are closed LESS than the non-dog beaches. Could be the dogs keep the bird population down, so less bird poop??? Unintended consequences.

Hi, original poster here. I've given up on the State park/dog camping campaign. We are moving away from CT, and will be enjoying lots of dog friendly state park camping in other areas and paying less for it, as well as living where leashed dogs are allowed on the beach, and unleashed at specified times.Seems to work out at other locations without mountains of dog doo being left.

Oh, and I just remembered this... If you really want to change something at Hammonassette, try the group "Friends of Hammonassette".

http://www.friendsofhammonasset.org/

You might be surprised at how much the park management will go by the FoH recommendations.

We lived in Mass for 17 years and only camped in CT twice. In both cases it was for a half marathon and we stayed at dog friendly private cg's that were far less expensive that $50/night.

When we visit our daughter in Lowell MA we stay at Minute Man CG in Littleton (dog Friendly). If we need or want to visit any other state, Minute Man is our base of operations. So in reality, no skin off my nose of CT is not dog friendly. We have two large doge that travel with us full time and we only go where the dogs are welcome.