PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION
(started 14th March 2011)
We, the undersigned, strongly object to Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council’s attempts to force dog owners to have dogs on leads at all times while on beaches and in community parks.This is a blanket 24 x 7 x 365 days ban on dogs being exercised off leads on ALL beaches and most parks in the County.
In enacting such bye-laws, it is apparent that those involved have little or no idea of the care and treatment of dogs. Any manual will advise that dogs need space to run and to socialise for their physical and mental well-being. Dogs exercised regularly are healthier and happier … as are their walkers. In these times of fitness awareness, it seems ridiculous for the County Council to deprive people of such regimes.
Responsible dog owners would encourage proper monitoring of beaches to ensure no anti-social behaviour by both dogs and their owners. No conscientious owner would like to feel responsible for a child going blind and accepts that cleaning up faeces is a serious and important health and safety issue. The few dog owners that give dog owners in general a bad name should be penalised as appropriate.
Dog walkers would also like to see banned breeds or otherwise dangerous dogs carefully monitored and any offenders properly prosecuted, as again this can be a danger to individuals as well as other dogs. But, as most dog owners will acknowledge, problems relating to dogs in open spaces, such as the beaches where they can run free and socialise, are very rare.
We will actively encourage the County Manager to enact sensible bye-laws that will benefit dogs, their owners and the county coffers.
4 comments
Andrew Teggin says:
Jun 18, 2012
We had our dog Zoe for 14 years until she died last year. She was a Border Collie and always full of energy, and it was a joy taking her to an open space like the woods on Killiney Hill to run around and explore, or to fetch a ball in the large open fields. Down on Killiney Beach, she would run around the shore, playing in the sea, happily splashing around. If she had to be kept on a lead, she would never have been able to run. She’s gone now, but I would hate to think dogs and dog owners would have to be restricted in the future in public parks and beaches like in Killiney.
Andrew Teggin
Wendy Hayes says:
Jun 18, 2012
It would be nice if there were beaches assigned all over Ireland for pets to play and run free on all year with their owners and not just only in wintertime. We’re not all twenty-one years of age and able to get to the beaches and be gone before 10.00am or arrive only after 7.00pm.
Jillian Tobin says:
Jun 20, 2012
There is no harm with dogs being allowed on beaches once the owners bring doggie bags with them and pick up after their dogs.
joby redmond says:
Oct 7, 2012
This is just madness. The council should concentrate their efforts on a more worth while cause. Stop the anti social behaviour or stop the drinking that goes on on the beaches. When i had my dog we would both enjoy a walk on Killiney or Seapoint beaches, i never had any problem. To take this away from the tax paying public is just insane. DLRCC have wasted millions of euros mis managing the town(cobbling and then un cobbling the streets,wasting millions..etc) or building or refitting their offices, they should just get on with what they are supposed to do and leave dogs and walkers alone.