Dog beach ban needs a re-think, say owners
DOG owners and their furry companions were celebrating the end of the summer ban of dogs on some of the island’s beaches yesterday.
The ban is in force between 1 May and 30 September every year on Fermain, Petit Bot, L’Eree, Vazon, Cobo, Port Soif, L’Ancresse and Pembroke.
Kate Brown was accompanied by her cockerpoo Stick on a walk along Vazon. She said they always made the most of the ban ending as soon as 1 October came around.
‘Stick loves it. He will happily run about in the sea and chase a ball along the sand for hours,’ she said.
Scott Wrigler enjoyed taking his golden labrador Zeus into the sea, and he called for the ban to be shortened.
‘I personally think it should end a bit earlier. If the tourist season carried on into the end of September then fair enough, but it doesn’t – the beaches are quite empty now,’ he said.
Johanne Taylor, who was walking her chocolate labrador Bill and rescue mongrel Mabel along Vazon, agreed that the length of the ban should be changed.
‘They should allow dogs on the beaches up to two weeks before schools break up for summer and allow them back on again two weeks after schools are back in September,’ she said.
‘I never have any problems with other dogs coming up to me. They’re always so friendly.’
Matthew Le Pelley, who was walking his three cesky terriers, Trevor, Alan and Lola, called for Guernsey to implement a similar policy to one used in Jersey.
‘I think dogs should be allowed on beaches all year round before 10am and after 6pm,’ he said.
‘It’s not busy at those times and would make things a lot easier.’
