Dogs on the beach, at the Jersey Shore

Incoming rant. Had a really annoying encounter yesterday with an unleashed dog on the beach. Was on the beach with my niece, who is petrified of dogs because she is toddler and is scared of dogs. And someone unleashed their dog at the stairs. Te dog takes off running all over the place right up to us, scaring my niece who is now hysterically crying and screaming. The person has the nerve to take their time coming over to you know remove the dog and then laughs and says he is friendly. I don’t care if he is friendly or not he is scaring a child. Control your animal! Why do people think that because summer is over dogs don’t need leashes on the beach? This was not a dog beach, it was clearly posted that all dogs must be leashed at all times. It would be one thing if the dog was behaved and didn’t bother anyone but this dog was running around uncontrolled.