Long Island dog owners want to play with their pets on the beach this summer, but park officials say there are concerns over sanitary issues and disrupting wildlife.

The Long Island Dog Owners Group has created a petition that asks Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York elected officials to lift the dog ban at beaches. Over 3,000 people have already signed the petition.

Despite the reasoning behind the decision, dog owners say access to public parks and beaches is critical to the health and wellness of people and their pets, especially during the pandemic.

"Access to parks is a basic right and need. It has been critical to the safe recreation for people to get them out of the house and to be able to be in a place that's safe," says Long Island Dog Owners Group President Ginny Mumger Kahn.

The dog owners say they aren't asking to have their dogs roam free on a big open public beach, but rather a small bay area where there are no lifeguards or people.

In recent years, access for dog owners has been expanded at state parks in non-beachfront areas, and signage has been updated to reflect those changes.