Sliema council says it is not banning dogs from its beaches

Marco Meli

Jul 1st 2011, 13:46

If the health ministry said that "this was meant to keep in check the possibility of spreading diseases", Then the minister for health should RESEIGN immeadiately for approving such nonsense!!!! May god help us from such people!!!

Ms f vincenti

Jul 1st 2011, 07:46

SO..... DOGS ARE BANNED FROM ALL SANDY BEACHES... yet they are not banned from the beach.... yet they are not allowed to swim in swimming zone areas...... yet you are not allowed to swim in launch lanes (non-swimming zones).... yet to reach a rocky patch at say, Riviera, Golden Bay, Selmun or Ramla, one would have to walk across the sand to get to the rocks, yet my dog is not allowed on the sand... hmmm.. How about banning certain humans from the beach; those that litter, allow their kids to poop on the sand in front of you and bury it, those that leave skin fungus spores behind for everyone else to pick up, the ones that leave used tissues everywhere ( we won't go into details of the remnants within those tissues) for the flies to feed off before they come sunbathe on your ice-cream, the humans that cough up lovely green sputum... I know! Just enforce a mandatory health test for all before they go to the beach to ensure a disease-free zone!? Get real. We have untreated drainage, boats dispelling waste water in bays, people peeing in the sea & on the sand (besides other things) & you are going to pick on pets? Who are the real dogs here?

M. Grech

Jul 1st 2011, 07:15

Unlike humans dogs don't pee or poo in the water while swimming. There is simply no added health hazard due to swimming with dogs. Like children dogs should be well behaved and controlled by their owners. Other than that they're great fun to be with in the water and in that way very good for ones health!

S Aquilina

Jun 30th 2011, 23:12

Dear Minsitry if you are so concerned about the possibilty of spreading of diseases I suggest you start by checking two beaches which I frequent ...one being ghadira bbq area...where human faeces, toilet paper and all sorts of rubbish are left behind...and the other being riviera where just today there was used toilet paper in the bushes ...now that's what i call the possibility of spreading diseases ...with flies buzzing and sun scorching on this rubbish...and not a home dog swimming in swimmers zone. It is so discriminatory to put the blame of disease spreading on a dog swimming.

Fleur Spiteri

Jun 30th 2011, 22:49

Finally some sense from a local council. Rules....but not beyond reason ! The rest of the councils should follow suit !!

Mr John Baldacchino

Jun 30th 2011, 21:49

My 4 year old Labrador is trianed for the last three and a half years so that under my comand, with a risk to its own life for humans to deliver a float to Person in distress while swimming, so this is what is reserved for her by Sliema council.

I SHALL NOTbe taking my dog to train and swim in the Sliema area.
Thank You Sliema Council

Mr Matthew Pace

Jun 30th 2011, 20:50

I don't understand about prices €50 €232 €4658 and €11600. What are difference between them?

jack bristow

Jun 30th 2011, 20:14

IS PRETTY BAY IN BIRZEBBUGA ALSO BANNED TO DOGS?

Mr pacifico galea

Jun 30th 2011, 17:54

lahwa qed taqilaw panic fuq ix xejn ghax il kbir ghadu gej sakem dan il gvern ikun fir renju ftit taz zmien iehor lanqas intom ma tithalew tghumu ghax il bajjiet jigu moghtija lil barranin bhal ma hawn hafna diga. sissa il bbq's u il klieb ghada ahna wkoll nigu banjatti li ninzlu fuq il bajjiet . Hawn ghad irridu nigu ghar min pajjiz komunista GRAZZI GHAS SUR GONZ li jghid li ghandu ghalqalbu il FAMILJA.

George Lewis

Jun 30th 2011, 17:41

So the law says that dogs cannot swim within the marked zone but outside it,they are permitted.I am trying ti find a solution to this even though I do not own a dog.Those who have can either grab their dog and toss it a 100 meters away,or get a helicopter and put the dog gently outside the marked zone or hire a boat and
let your dog swim there.
Maybe the readers or the concerned councils have some other ideas!
Good move by Sliema council for giving dogs a chance.Hopefully other councils would do the same.

Mr Martin Saliba

Jun 30th 2011, 17:37

Unbelievable , some common sense from the SLC , where did they manage to find it i wonder.

Mr Dave Smith

Jun 30th 2011, 16:40

Yeah 4500 euros because your dog goes, with you for a swim. Lets see what happens to the Mitsubushi FTO driver when he eventually appears in court.After all he was only accused of allegedly hitting and killing a tourist ?

G Debono

Jun 30th 2011, 16:01

RE "....The Health Ministry said this was meant to keep in check the possibility of spreading diseases...."

this is pure fantasy.

Can the health ministry please tell us what "diseases" dogs can spread from swimming ?

The only significant "disease" from dogs is accidental infestation, almost invariably in children, with dog worms from puppies. This happens typically in the home and not on beaches. Or if a dog dirties a sand pit where children play. There is NO way that this may happen when a dog swims among children or grown ups.

The only significant disease which can be transmitted by animals in Malta is (well, was...) brucellosis (deni rqiq) from goats and even then it was from drinking their milk - - - if goats enjoyed swimming like dogs it would still be no problem if they swam in Sliema.

Thank you Sliema council for coming to your senses.

Mr Christopher Grech

Jun 30th 2011, 15:36

Humans leave a worse mess than animals who know no better.

Marc Calleja Bayliss

Jun 30th 2011, 15:26

Mr.Ferriggi,

With all due respect, you cannot ever make everyone happy. I for one am a dog owner and I believe that yes our animals should have the opportunity to bathe in Sea Water. Me and my family always keep the dog close. I must also note that people tend to make much more of a mess than animals. If YOU are not interested in animals, most of the population is and that is why, you are making this issue all about yourself -_- ! Seriously, grow up, will you!

Thanks.

Victor Vella

Jun 30th 2011, 15:25

I wonder who wrote the law, could this be another brussels law? or that who ever wrote it is an animal hater? One cannot get disease by swimming in the same sea water as a dog, and besides that people who take their dogs to the beach with them are animal lovers who if thier dog is sick they would treat it and most probably keep him at home and stay with the dog . So please let us not invent another way of getting money from fines.

Pierre Mangion

Jun 30th 2011, 15:21

Many thanks for their consideration. i still have one question though - which bye-law would be applicable...the one notified by Government or those by the Sliema Council, especially since the latter seem not to be much bothered if the beloved take a dip in the swimming zones as long as not into the natural pools. furthermore there is a considerate discrepancy in the level of fines.

Mr Joe Anastasi

Jun 30th 2011, 14:45

Well done Sliema local council.

Mr R ferriggi

Jun 30th 2011, 14:44

very very good.

now lets see the mess. and smells.

some are saying that ''people also leave a mess''. this is not a good excuse to allow dogs on the beahes where people lie down.

ALL people and /or animals that leave rubbish are to be fined/banned etc.

the rest of us who ARE NOT interested in animals or pets should also have the right to enjoy these places with our mind at rest.