Dog Friendly Key West?

Key West can be difficult -- it's one of those places you either love it or ... not.  There are feral cats ALL OVER THE PLACE -- everywhere -- including just roaming thru outdoor cafes, etc.  So honestly that could make things difficult dependning on your dog.  (there are also feral chickens and roosters all over the place). 
 
In Florida generally La Quintas are almost always pet friendly, and many of the Comfort In chain (Quality. Comfort, Sleep, etc.) can be but it's completely individual.  Some Best Westerns and Red Roof Inns are as well -- also individual.  However some counties have pretty off the wall ordinances - like St. Pete/St. Pete Beach area where you can't have a dog in the room of any motel that has any consumable ammenities -- i.e., if you have a coffeemaker even in the room NO DOGS.  That means most of the above-named inns become not pet friendly. 
 
There are a *few* beaches in Florida that specifically violate the "No dogs on the beach" Florida law (and yeah, it's patently illegal in Florida to take a dog on the beach -- it's state law) -- but a few small beach areas (and I can't tell you simply because it changes off all the time) will specifically set themselves up to violate that -- usually at specific times of the day. 
 
I don't know much about the specifics of the area - I'm up above Orlando, so I just don't know Ft. Myers.  I would check out with specific restaurants in the areas you're going tho -- some areas (Orlando, Daytona, etc.) have had this huge flap in the last year and it's nearly impossible to find a restaurant with an outdoor cafe seating that will allow dogs.  Orlando is a 'clean air' state (no restaurants allow a smoking section) so they've moved it outside and the smokers have complained and have gotten dogs banned in many places.
 
Difficult?  yes it surely can be.  If your parents aren't positive  I would specifically call restaurants in the Ft. Myers area that have outdoor seating and make sure the dog will be welcome.  And before you plan any sort of boat trip, again you would have to consult them on whether or not the dog would be allowed.  If you wind up driving to the Keys be prepared for the length of the drive in and out -- it's so close via boat from Key West to Ft. Myers/Sarasota and such a HUGE car trip.
 
Good luck!

Could you please site the laws for no pets allowed in rooms in St Pete and no dogs allowed on beaches in state law.  I have never heard about either of these.
 

I don't know the Florida Statute that cites no dogs on the beach but I know I've had it shoved in my face enough.  And my husband and I go to Dunedin every year for the Highland Games and I finally got a motel owner to tell me it was a local ordinance -- now it may not be county, but I know just crossing the line into Hillsborough County makes a huge difference.  Just try finding a motel that is pet friendly in St. Pete Beach and you'll understand.
 
I'm near Orlando -- most of this stuff is city ordinance -- and with the renovation of the big "downtown" areas and the huge influx of luxury condos have gotten a lot of this stirred up.  I'm a legal secretary but I don't have access to every area's local ordinances, nor can I cite chapter and verse on county law. 
 
As far as the beaches law, you will find in SOME areas that law may be cited on the "no dogs allowed" signs on the beach -- but I'm in the center of the state - I can't just walk to a sign and let you know that, sorry.  I've been here in Florida for over 23 years -- and honestly I've been thrown out of more than one motel in Daytona for it -- there is ONE motel up near Ponce Inlet which will allow dogs (it's on the pet-friendly website that is national) but they make it clear and plain the dogs are NOT allowed on the beach under any circumstance.

There are a few hotels in the St Pete Beach area that allow pets.  Don Cesar, and Bayside are 2 I am familar with.  There is no local ordinance I am aware of that restricts pets in motels (just can't have them in the lobby if they serve breakfast there.  There are even some dog friendly beaches in Tampa and that is by ordinance.  2 that I know are the courtney cambell causeway and davis island.  I live in the Tampa area so I know these places.  We travel throughout Florida (from the western tip to Miami) competing in agility trials and the only area where it is hard to find motels is in the Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce area.  Otherwise we never have any problems.  It's funny that on Daytona beach they allow cars but not dogs.  We stayed on the beach there once and only could go on the terrace that the motel had but not the beach.  My guys wouldn't have liked it anyway.  Been to the highland games a couple of times.  It's fun to walk around especially when you have shelties and everyone in kilts wants pictures with my pups.
 
 
 
 

**ahem** New Smyrna Beach has a dog beach. I am not sure about dog-friendly hotels. Most of the hotels are pretty flexible.

Here are some Motels in Key West that allow pets per a listing I have .
 
[linkhttp://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewHotelDetails?z=a2bf&r=10i&origin=hotel.results.viewhotelsearchresults.DETAILS&hotelEntryKey=51610&tabIndex=0&divId=0]Sunrise Suites Resort [/link]
[linkhttp://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewHotelDetails?z=a2c8&r=10r&origin=hotel.results.viewhotelsearchresults.DETAILS&hotelEntryKey=46451&tabIndex=0&divId=1]Sheraton Suites Key[/link] West
[linkhttp://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewHotelDetails?z=a242&r=184&origin=hotel.results.viewhotelsearchresults.DETAILS&hotelEntryKey=40666&tabIndex=0&divId=2]Atlantic Shores Resort [/link]
[linkhttp://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewHotelDetails?z=a249&r=18b&origin=hotel.results.viewhotelsearchresults.DETAILS&hotelEntryKey=192053&tabIndex=0&divId=3]The Westin Key West Resort & Marina [/link]
[linkhttp://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewHotelDetails?z=a250&r=18i&origin=hotel.results.viewhotelsearchresults.DETAILS&hotelEntryKey=136752&tabIndex=0&divId=4]Ambrosia Key West [/link]
 
Of course this time of year there is not such thing as reasonably priced.