Man's best friends

I am writing this letter with a sense of disgust and also in amazement at the article regarding the police removal of a dog from the beach. Animal rights? Yeah, right!

Not only do we try and give animal rights in Malta the furthest place in our most-important list, we are even bold enough to enact laws against pets and owners enjoying themselves together. I take my dogs swimming on a very regular basis. Not only is it very healthy exercise for us, but it also provides them with a break from our sweltering heat. My dogs are well trained enough not to disturb other bathers and I am responsible enough to clean after them. I am positive that, just like me, there are lots of other dog owners. It is a joy to see owners and their pets enjoy themselves together, but apparently not in Malta!

The best photos I have of my dogs swimming have been taken by foreigners visiting the beach, who also encourage their children to go play with the dogs. On the other hand, it is not the first time that I have been sworn at, told off and heard kids warned from a mile away to keep their distance... and what a surprise! They were my fellow locals!

We should be ashamed at this silly law. There are bigger factors that contribute to the pollution of our environment and to health and safety regulations. Take any beach. Weekend after weekend, one will find bottles or syringes in the bay; which I think are worse than a canine pet. There are also the aftermath of BBQs, parties, irresponsible bathers who litter, out of control sports. (Be honest, who has never been hit by a flying beach ball or terrified by jet skiers?) In truth, it is these things and not dogs at beaches that one hears of and reads about in the papers.

If laws are enforced and people are better educated on how to relate to animals, this would not be a problem in this island. Abroad, you find dog parks, animal friendly restaurants and hotels, pet friendly buses, adequate facilities to dispose of animal waste and faeces, proper canine training colleges, the list goes on...

Please broaden your horizons and look up these things on the internet and also in magazines.

For those who think I am another animal extremist, it depends on your perception. I think there is nothing more pleasing than a good relationship between animals and humans, especially man's best friend. Those who are scared of dogs and would not go swimming because of them ought to know that Ghadira beach is quite large and they are bound to find a place where there are no dogs. On the other hand, they could do like us dog owners and go in the early hours when the beaches are empty. They will thus know what it feels like to be discriminated against for loving your pet.