Letter: Despite law, dogs still a problem on Westport beaches

Posted 8/2/15

To the editor:

Dogs are not allowed on Westport town beaches between mid April and mid September. Whenever dogs are legally on town property they must be leashed. These laws are enforceable by the animal control officer and the police …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Letter: Despite law, dogs still a problem on Westport beaches

Posted

To the editor:

Dogs are not allowed on Westport town beaches between mid April and mid September. Whenever dogs are legally on town property they must be leashed. These laws are enforceable by the animal control officer and the police department and each violation carries a $50 fine. Despite this being the law for years (at first by order of the Board of Selectman, than by vote of the Town Meeting) compliance is minimal, if at all.

The Beach Committee is authorized by the Board of Selectmen to set and enforce beach rules. However, the Town Meeting voted this year to make the restriction of dogs on the town beaches a bylaw and not simply an order of the Board of Selectman or rule of the Beach Committee. Despite a majority vote by Town Meeting attendees, this law is not being complied with. When dog walkers are told of this law they deny it is the law or claim to have been dog walking for long enough to have “the right” to continue walking their dogs on the beach.

How to change the culture of dogs on the beach? Other towns and other beaches offer an example. The state beach has employees checking in every car and “No dog” signs abound. Other local beaches post patrol cars at their beach parking lots at times when those who break the rules are likely to use the parking lot and beach. Police ticket those who break the law.

People who ignore the dog restrictions usually use the beach before or after the lifeguards are on duty during the season (the lifeguards post an additional “No dogs” sign on the beach) and at anytime of the day off season. Those who ignore the parking permit requirements also avoid the most popular beach times. The Westport Police can issue tickets for vehicles without proper permits and to those who abuse the dog walking restrictions. Parking permits can be revoked for violation of beach rules. However, the beach parking lots are only infrequently patrolled and these patrols are not timed to dog walkers. With good enforcement we can get our beach parking lot back from those without permits and our beaches back from the plethora of dog walkers.

In the past, the beach committee prepared a pamphlet listing the rules of the beach (now outdated) but it was not widely distributed. This should be updated and given out to all residents who buy beach parking permits when the first permit is issued in January of each year. Likewise, all Westport dog owners should be given a pamphlet identifying all town dog restrictions when dog licenses are issued. In addition all dog owners should be given the pamphlet prepared by the Westport River Watershed Alliance about the dangers of dog feces in our rivers and waterways. Dog owners routinely leave dog feces on our beaches and walkways. The distribution of permits identifying the rules has long been the practice for each shellfish permit issued. The town clerk gives a pamphlet identifying the Shellfish harvesting restrictions to each new permit holder. The Shellfish rules are enforced by the police, the shellfish constable, deputy warden or person designated by the Board of Selectmen as an enforcer.

The animal control officer and her assistant as well as the Westport Police should make periodic trips to the beach during high usage times to issue tickets. In 2014, Town Meeting voted to allow the beach committee to use the money generated by the beach parking permit fee for beach purposes. This money is substantial. It has accumulated over the past two years and should be used to make and post signs restricting dogs from mid April to mid September and requiring them to be leashed at other time and to pay for enforcement.

Call your local town official and the animal control officer to ask them to implement enforcement so we can all enjoy the beach as the law provides.

M. Beck

Westport

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.