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 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.