Article IOL: Dog owners get a reprieve

Residents of one of Cape Town's upmarket suburbs are tightening the leash on pet owners who fail to control their noisy dogs and clean up the mess they leave after walking their pets on the beach.

Dog enjoys the sun at Camps Bay beach (Image by: http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/entry/)

Camps Bay residents formed the Friends of Camps Bay Beaches Association after the City of Cape Town declared Camps Bay beach off-limits to dogs last year. Members of the association, some of whom have been walking their dogs on the beach for more than 30 years, negotiated with the city and were granted a reprieve - they are allowed to walk their pets in the morning until 9am in summer. But the group, membership of which is said to be growing by the day, has undertaken to make sure that dogs are always leashed and that owners collect and dispose of their dogs' deposits. Byron Herbert, of Friends of Camps Bay Beaches, said there are "thousands and thousands" of people who walk their dogs on the beach in summer. Summer evenings are probably the most problematic, with people enjoying picnics while dogs are "jumping around and kicking the sand or defecating on the beach". "To date we have had a great response. [The association] will be reporting back on any problems," said Herbert.

PHILANI NOMBEMBE | 03 June, 2013 00:08
http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/06/03/dog-owners-get-a-reprieve