A 225-pound English Mastiff named Sir Winston just won the 2026 Animal Mayor race in Coronado, and honestly, nobody on the island was surprised. The campaign raised $44,710 for PAWS of Coronado, the nonprofit animal shelter at 1825 Strand Way that's been placing dogs and cats in homes since 2003. Sir Winston beat out a slate of dogs, cats, and at least one amphibian in a weeks-long fundraiser where every dollar counted as a vote. He'll ride in the Fourth of July parade and serve as the island's ceremonial Animal Mayor through June 2028.
That's the kind of town Coronado is. The dogs don't just live here. They run for office.
Dog Beach: Off-Leash, All Day, Every Day
Coronado Dog Beach sits at the north end of Coronado Beach, right where Ocean Boulevard dead-ends near North Island Naval Air Station. It's off-leash 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and it's free. No permits, no day passes, no time restrictions. The sand is wide and flat, the waves are gentle enough that most dogs charge straight in, and on a clear afternoon you can see the Point Loma headland and the Hotel del Coronado from the waterline. Parking is free along Ocean Boulevard, though the walk from the lot to the sand can stretch a quarter mile. There's a hose and rinse station near the entrance, which you'll need. Every dog leaves this beach soaked.
But here's the thing people miss: Dog Beach is the ONLY off-leash area on the entire island. Everywhere else in Coronado, your dog needs to be on a leash. All city parks. All sidewalks. All other sections of beach. The city enforces this, and fines can hit $500 for repeat violations. So enjoy Dog Beach. Run your dog ragged. And then clip the leash back on before you walk to the car.
Dogs aren't allowed on any other section of Coronado Beach. That includes the stretch in front of Hotel del Coronado, the area near the lifeguard tower, and everything south toward Silver Strand State Beach. The only exception is the designated Dog Beach at the north end. Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are allowed anywhere.
The Sewage Factor: Check Before You Go
This is the part nobody wants to write about, but if you're bringing your dog to Coronado Beach in 2026, you have to know. The Tijuana River sewage crisis has caused repeated beach closures across the southern San Diego coastline, and Coronado hasn't been spared. In March, April, and June of 2026, sections of Coronado's shoreline were closed to all water contact after bacteria readings exceeded state health standards by orders of magnitude. Silver Strand State Beach has been closed since early June. Coronado's city beaches were downgraded from a full closure to an advisory just before the Fourth of July, meaning the water still had elevated bacteria levels but wasn't completely off-limits.
Check sdbeachinfo.com or call the county's 24-hour hotline at 619-338-2073 before you load the dog in the car. Conditions change week to week. When the beach is under a closure, that means no water contact at all, for humans or dogs.
Coronado Cays Dog Run
If you live in the Coronado Cays, there's a designated dog run at Coronado Cays Park. It's fenced, it's smaller than Dog Beach, and dogs still need to be leashed getting to and from the run area. It won't replace an afternoon at Dog Beach, but for a quick morning session it does the job. The Cays are on the south end of the island, about a 10-minute drive from the Village along Silver Strand Boulevard.
Where Dogs Are Welcome on Orange Avenue
Coronado Island has more dog-friendly restaurant patios per square mile than almost anywhere in San Diego. Bluewater Boathouse at 1701 Strand Way actually has a dog menu with bark treats, chicken, and tuna served with rice. Tartine on Orange Avenue hands out homemade dog biscuits. The Henry has one of the roomiest patios on the island, and they're completely fine with dogs. Brigantine Seafood & Oyster Bar welcomes dogs on their sidewalk seating. Miguel's Cocina and Garage Buona Forchetta both allow dogs on their back patios. And if you stop at Clayton's Coffee Shop, one of the oldest breakfast spots on the island, ask about their Pup Cakes at the bakery counter.
Hotel del Coronado is pet-friendly for guests, and the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa accepts dogs as well. Loews Coronado Bay Resort has its own "Loews Loves Pets" program. So yes, Coronado is dog-friendly. Extremely dog-friendly. You can eat with your dog, sleep with your dog, and spend all day at the beach with your dog. Just keep the leash handy between stops.
PAWS of Coronado: The Shelter That Runs the Mayor's Race
PAWS of Coronado is the island's nonprofit animal shelter, and it does a lot more than elect mayors. They help over 400 animals find homes each year. They run a foster program, a dog-walking volunteer program, and the annual Ruff Run fundraiser. They're located at 1825 Strand Way, 92118, right inside the city's municipal complex. If you're looking to adopt in Coronado, PAWS is where you start. And if you just want to help, they always need volunteers to walk dogs and socialize cats.
The Animal Mayor campaign has been running since 2010. It started as the Canine Mayor race, but this year they opened it to all species. Sir Winston's campaign was the most successful in PAWS history. Jackie Williams, the executive director, said the fundraiser "exceeded our expectations and demonstrated what is possible when an entire community comes together on behalf of animals."
Vets, Groomers, and Pet Services on the Island
Coronado is small. About 24,000 people. But it has two full veterinary hospitals, multiple groomers, a pet boarding facility, pet supply shops, and a dog-walking service. Purple Paws Pet Clinic at 817 Orange Avenue just expanded their urgent care services in July 2026 and brought on Dr. Jennifer Jellison. They now offer same-day urgent care Monday through Saturday, 9am to 6pm, for pets that need prompt attention but don't need an emergency room. It's AAHA-accredited, which only about 15% of veterinary practices in the country can say. Coronado Veterinary Hospital has been on the island for decades, with 154 Google reviews and a 4.5 rating.
For grooming, Erika's Dog Grooming has 67 reviews and a loyal following. Pollyanna's Grooming is smaller but well-reviewed. PoshPaws handles pet boarding with a 5.0 rating across 52 reviews, which is hard to argue with. IB Pet Coronado carries food, toys, and supplies. And if you need someone to walk your dog while you're at work, Pawronado Premier Pet Care is the local option.
A typical vet visit on the island runs between $60 and $120 for a basic exam, depending on the clinic and what's needed. Grooming in San Diego generally costs $50 to $100 per session depending on the size of the dog and the services. Tipping your groomer 15-20% is standard.
So Is Coronado Dog-Friendly?
Yes. It might be the most dog-friendly town in California, and that's not an exaggeration. You've got a year-round off-leash beach, two dozen restaurant patios that welcome dogs, pet-friendly hotels ranging from the Del to boutique inns, a nonprofit shelter that elects a dog as mayor every two years, and enough vets and groomers to keep every pup on the island healthy and clean. The Glorietta Bay Park shoreline is a popular on-leash walk with bay views. Orange Avenue on a Saturday morning is basically a dog parade. And now there's a 225-pound Mastiff in charge.
Sir Winston didn't run on policy. He ran on belly rubs and donut holes from Clayton's. And he won in a landslide.
