New rules give dog walkers more options

Dog owners and their pets now have more places to explore in Huntington. Town board members on Tuesdayapproved 5-0 a town code amendment allowing people to walk their leashed dogs in all town parks except Heckscher Park, the Betty Allen Nature Preserve, playgrounds, picnic areas, active recreation areas, town camps and town beaches. Dogs will be allowed on paved areas and boardwalks at town beaches.

This provides more places where people can bring their dogs and makes the town’s policy consistent with that of Suffolk County, which allows dogs on trails in all parks on a leash not more than 6 feet long, town officials said.