Venice, a small town that boasts a quaint downtown, has a long stretch of public beach. The beach, which starts at the northern edge of the city, runs past a marina, small airport, condominiums, waterfront restaurant and homes. The city has all the modern amenities of any city: groceries, retail shops, restaurants, medical facilities and gas stations. The downtown allows shoppers to walk from store to store. The city and the beach are remarkably dog-friendly.
Further east of Venice, the Myakka River beckons campers. Parts of this river meander through Venice, but other portions touch the shores of nearby communities such as Sarasota.
Venice has many parks, but for pet lovers, Paws Park is the only one on the beach to go visit. It's a section of Venice beach that allows dogs a leash-free zone to run and play. The park opens at 7 a.m. and closes at sunset. It has picnic tables, fenced access from the road and water fountains for dogs and people.
People who bring their pets camping in Venice will find the city welcoming and pet-friendly. To get the most out of camping with a pet in Venice, here are some suggestions:
Bring proof of vaccination. Florida law requires cats and dogs to have a current rabies license.
At the campgrounds, be aware of wildlife. Raccoons are shameless scavengers and clever about getting into food containers. Do not allow your dog to tangle with a raccoon; raccoons can carry rabies, which shouldn't be a threat if your furry friend has her rabies shot, but the bite can get infected.
Don't tie out your pet unattended. Aside from the risk of raccoons, Florida sun can get hot. Even if your campsite has shade, and even with the sea breeze, it won't take much for your pet to overheat.
Get your pet water from known freshwater sources. Venice has reclaimed water in addition to drinking water. Reclaimed water is highly treated waste water and thought to be fairly safe, but is not suggested for human or animal consumption.
Some pet-friendly campgrounds in Venice are located on the Myakka River. This river (along with any body of freshwater in Florida) has alligators. It is not uncommon for gators to eat dogs and cats of all sizes. Exercise extreme caution at night (when gators feed) and use common sense at all times.
While camping in Venice, keep a short list of pet-related businesses that might be handy over the course of the trip. Get the name of a local veterinarian who can assist with any emergencies or inconveniences. Ark Animal has a web site that will help out-of-towners get familiar with their services. Also, find a pet supply store such as Meows and Growls that sells food and supplies in case your pet breaks a leash or needs more food. Venice also has a Pet Supermarket, and many veterinarians will sell some pet supplies.
Three local campgrounds boast that they are pet-friendly. Camp Venice Retreat has secluded, pet-friendly camping on the Myakka River. It offers tent, RV and cabin camping. Myakka RV Resort, a member of the KOA family of resorts, is on the Myakka River. This campground has many year-round members but also welcomes short-term campers. Finally, Myakka River State Park allows pets in camping areas, although not in camping cabins. The park has primitive camp sites and full-facility camp sites that do welcome pets.
