A dog's life - October 28, 2005

It would be interesting to find out which local council started the increasingly common trend of not allowing dogs on beaches. Being people who enjoy going to the beach and also the owners of a dog who loves swimming, my wife and myself always look forward to taking our dog with us whenever we go to the beach.

As Siggiewi residents, the most convenient beach for us would be Ghar Lapsi. However, unfortunately, a sign is in place that bans dogs from that beach. We have also encountered the same problem in the recently upgraded St George's Bay and also in Xlendi.

What is the logic behind this? Have such draconian measures been put in place to ensure that beaches remain free from dog excrement or because a few dogs have been a nuisance to bathers? I am one of the many dog owners who always keep their dog under control and who always cleans up after it.

I find it very unfair if all dog owners are being made to pay for the negligence of a few irresponsible others. In fact, there are laws in place which require owners to make sure that dogs are kept under control and that we clean up any mess they leave behind.

Banning dogs from beaches is not the way to enforce the law. Local councils should have wardens monitoring the beaches and they should fine any owners who fail to abide by the law. A lack of resources to enforce is not an excuse since the measures banning dogs from beaches require enforcing too.