Last year, Barbara Arnold wanted to take Bailey, her Catahoula leopard dog, and Emma, her mixed-breed shelter rescue, to splash and play at the beach.

But Brevard County code prohibits dogs on beaches. So Arnold drove her pets all the way from Rockledge to Smyrna Dunes Park in Volusia County -- a 125-mile round-trip commute she described as "kind of an all-day thing."

"They swam and played and met some new friends," she told Local 6 News partner Florida . "We had five or six dogs and five or six people, having a good time together and just hanging out. I think we need that closer to home,"

Arnold founded Sandy Paws Brevard, which is lobbying for designation of a Space Coast dog-friendly area at a lightly used beach and collected nearly 3,600 online petition signatures. Tuesday, the Brevard County Commission will discuss the proposal.

Commissioner Andy Anderson -- who owns Spirit, a Jack Russell mix -- said he supports a designated dog-access area, similar to those in other Florida counties.

"I think we should check out what's already out there, and not reinvent the wheel," Anderson said.

Commissioner Robin Fisher said he needs to research the proposal before forming an opinion. Messages seeking comment were left for the other three commissioners.

Arnold said she is scouting potential locations with county administrators and Patrick Air Force Base officials.

"We are flexible, as far as location. We are flexible, as far as implementation of the rules," Arnold said. "We just want a place to take our dogs and enjoy the beach."

However, some argue that dogs should remain barred from the beach. Reasons: attacks on humans and other animals; droppings left on the sand; and dogs digging into sea turtle nests.

Indialantic resident Mary Viani lives in an oceanfront condominium, and she describes herself as a dog lover. But she said she constantly sees canines illegally polluting the beach, which she coined "a doggie park."

Viani called animal enforcement after watching a woman and her dog earlier this month.

"The dog relieved himself -- and she just kicked some sand on it and kept going," she said. "And this lady goes along with two children -- and one of them stepped right in it."

On the other hand, West Melbourne resident Allan Innes -- who owns three dogs -- would like to see canine-friendly beaches at 25-mile intervals along the coast. He is confident these zones would remain regulated and sanitary.

"Government interference in our lives has become suffocating, and permission to breathe may be coming at any moment," Innes said. "Allow some small watery area to those of us with animals who pay the high taxes, too," he said.

People who take dogs to Brevard beaches face a $55 first-offense fine and a $115 fine for additional infractions. Service animals are exempt.