Good Dog Goods

We hope you’ll visit us while you’re on Island. We’re on the upper end
of Circuit Avenue, the main business street in Oak Bluffs. We have
porches and a fenced-in play yard for you and your dog(s) to enjoy.
We carry lots of practical things that will help you have an even better
vacation and we have beautiful and unusual items that you won’t find
anywhere else. We pride ourselves on our healthful treats and chews
for dogs and we have a dazzling bakery case.

Come! Sit! Stay! Behave...

Islanders—visitors and residents alike—are very welcoming, but
understandably intolerant of bad manners, the kind that are exhibited
by owners who do not faithfully and fully pick up after their dogs. We
have zero tolerance for folks who leave a mess of any kind behind.

Our down-Island towns are extremely busy in the summer. If a dog is
not comfortable with lots of activity—noise and excitement and traffic,
bikes and boat whistles, kids and music—they will have no fun at all! If
they like to be in the thick of things, they will have a great time.

We always ask our visitors to please remember that not everyone
loves dogs (imagine!), so respect people’s boundaries and leash your
dog close to you if someone is noticeably uncomfortable around your
best friend.

Getting Around

buses, cabs, & trolleys

If you are planning to use public transportation, our buses welcome
dogs. However, they have a policy that if a passenger who is already
on the bus objects to a dog (because of allergies or discomfort), the
dog and owner are asked to take the next bus. If the dog and owner
are already on the bus, they may remain and the objecting passenger
is asked to take another bus. Dogs are welcome to ride in cabs and
other forms of public transportation, including the trolleys in
Edgartown and the buses that service the Steamship Authority.

steamship authority

Pets are allowed to board the Steamship Authority ferries. As always,
owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets and pets must be
kept on a leash. Pets (except for service assistance animals) are not
allowed in any food service area or on passenger seats or tables.

Conservation Properties

We have breathtakingly beautiful conserved properties of various sizes
here on the Island. To obtain copies of their rules and regulations,
please call the individual agency.

Dog Parks

There is a 70-acre meadow on the Island, the Martha's Vineyard Land
Bank Tradewinds Airport property in Oak Bluffs. Formerly a grass-field
airport, an occasional small plane still lands on this property, so keep
an eye out. Around the open meadow here and the wooded areas,
there are walking trails. There is shade, but no water on the
Tradewinds, so you'll want to bring water along. Sometimes it seems as
though every playground might have a bully. We rarely hear of
aggressive dogs frequenting these areas, but it’s not a bad idea to be
a little cautious.
Vineyard Haven also has a dog park--you'll see the sign as you head
out of Vineyard Haven going up-Island, towards West Tisbury. It's on
the left just past a feed and garden supply store known as SBS. This is
also a lovely property, although nowhere near as large as the
Tradewinds. There are walking trails and pretty meadows—well worth a
visit. Again, there is no water on the park, so be sure to bring your own.

Public Parks

In Oak Bluffs, we have wonderful parks where dogs are welcome. All
of these places are great for people, too, and very, very beautiful. A
walk around the Oak Bluffs harbor is an adventure all in itself and
dogs are treated like visiting royalty. Lots of boaters bring dogs, so
you'll have fun there.
There's the State Forest, with miles and miles of trails, some of them
hard-top. Because of the size of the forest, it’s best to keep your dogs
close if not on a leash. There are lots of deer out here and many
reasons to explore, so it’s a good idea to let only a dog with strong
re-call manners run free in the forest.

Dining Out & Places to Stay

Many of the restaurants with outdoor seating will allow dogs to join
you there, so call ahead and ask if they can accommodate you.

Nancy's and Coop De Ville on the Oak Bluffs harbor, Offshore Ale in
Oak Bluffs (by the Post Office), and Nomans (just before State Beach
on way to Edgartown) are all are very welcoming to people with well-
behaved dogs. There are several restaurants in each town that are
similarly accommodating.

Vacation Do’s & Don’ts

Don’t leave your dog in a car even with windows open—the
temperature can easily exceed the danger threshold for dogs within a
minute or two.

Don’t leave your dog alone in a car on the freight deck of the boats—
not only can it become dangerously hot in a closed car on the freight
deck, but it also can be a frightening and noisy place for a dog.Don’t
leave your dog behind in your hotel room if you think that will be
upsetting.