Dogs can bring us great pleasure and most dog owners behave in a responsible manner and train their pets to behave properly but sadly there is a minority who don’t.
It is important for dog owners to realise that not everyone loves their dog as much as they do. In fact, they may be terrified of them.
I’m a dog lover myself but I have had several frightening experiences with dogs out of control on beaches.
One incident in particular, involved a huge German Shepherd on Baltray beach running several hundred yards towards me barking and growling with his fangs bared.
I just froze to the spot as the animal’s owner raced toward me from about 500 yards away waving the dog’s lead in the air and shouting things like “you’re grand, he won’t touch you.” I shan’t repeat what I said back to him, but it wasn’t very complimentary.
That was over 40 years ago, but it will stick in my memory for ever and I had sort of understood that in the meantime laws had been put in place to make it compulsory for dog owners to have their pets on leads in public places such as beaches. Well apparently not.
Just this week, the Cathaoirleach of the South Drogheda-East Meath Municipal District, Cllr Stephen McKee, tabled a motion to Meath County Council calling for foreshore bye-laws on the proper control of dogs on local Meath beaches to be fully enforced.
“People regularly tell me of bad experiences they or family members have had with dogs that are not being properly controlled by their owners” McKee said.
“Many people now have a genuine fear of going to the beach and even taking their own dogs to the beach because they are afraid of being attacked by a loose animal.
“Furthermore, we have an issue with dangerous breeds being allowed to roam the beach without muzzles on. We need much stricter enforcement of the Council’s own bye-laws. It is unfair particularly on young children and senior citizens who are most vulnerable.
“As a dog-owner myself, I want to see a beach that is safe and accommodating for all but I am concerned that we still have a way to go before that is the case. “I am pleased that the Council are now looking at this and have agreed as a start, to improve and enhance animal control signage at our beaches.”
