Dogs make wonderful pets and contribute to the emotional well-being of their owners. But in built-up areas, when not properly controlled and supervised, their behaviour can seriously reduce the enjoyment other citizens are entitled to expect in their use of public amenities. Dogs don't have to bite someone to become a nuisance. High-spirited behaviour alone is frequently sufficient to terrify small children and to alarm their parents. And, of course, there is the widespread problem of dog fouling that can pose significant health risks.
In that context, t week's decision by Fingal councillors to reject a management proposal for the strict control of dogs on north Dublin beaches during the summer was ill-judged, even if understandable. It was proposed to ban dogs from the most popular bathing beaches between the hours of 11am and 6pm during the months of June, July and August. But a majority of councillors decided that pets could use the beaches at all times and would only have to be kept on a leash within designated swimming areas.
It is difficult to blame them. They knew, only too well, that making strict regulations would antagonise dog-walkers while doing little or nothing to protect beach-users. We are great for making laws in this State. And then we fail to enforce them. We have laws that require owners to clean up after their pets. And yet our beaches and pavements are visible health hazards for small children. By-laws that require pets to be kept on leads in public parks are freely ignored. And a requirement that certain dangerous breeds of dog be muzzled in public is rarely obeyed.
Until the authorities take the existing laws seriously and enforce them, there is little point in extending their remit. Pet regulations are viewed with the same contempt that some motorists have for drink-driving laws. They do not expect to be caught. And, therefore, they do as they please. Unfortunately, there is little sign the culture of enforcement is about to change.
Fingal County Council employs one full-time dog warden to police the existing laws in all of north Dublin. There are two in South County Dublin and one in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. It is not enough. Two years ago, there were 200,000 licensed dogs in the State and only 41 full-time dog wardens. Nearly 10,000 dogs were seized. And 17,000 unfortunate animals were destroyed. The statistics make for grim reading.
Dog owners have a duty of care, not just to their pets but to the public at large. And the authorities must enforce the law.