Officially-sanctioned animal cruelty

In the wake of the Star story – the dog that was shot in the head and buried alive – and the emotion brought about by that cruelty, the Ministry of Health decided to enforce the 2009 rules which, inter alia, prohibit dogs from being taken to swimmers’ zones and the creatures from trespassing on sandy beaches. Why? “To keep in check the possibility of spreading diseases”.

Is there any scientific proof that dogs could spread diseases any more than humans? Could any learned veterinary doctor, enlighten us?

One thing I know is that dogs, unlike human beings, do not relieve their bowels while swimming.

In all fairness, according to the 2009 rules, rocky beaches are not out of bounds but the owners must ensure their pets are not a nuisance to other bathers and should clean any fouling. Fair enough. However, in addition to the 2009 rules, the Sliema local council has put forward proposed new by-laws to prohibit dogs from swimming in the “natural” pools, along Sliema’s rocky beaches, to keep the pets out of public gardens and, for good measure, if taken to the beach or the promenade, they must be kept on a leash, at all times. If not on the beach, where else in the completely built-up Sliema?

Curiously, it will be noted that the Sliema local council has been applying these additional rules for some years now. I and many others have been fined in the past, and still do today, for letting our dog exercise off the leash on the stretch of rock between Exiles and Surfside and along Fond Għadir. Does this mean the Sliema local council has been abusing its authority?

Worst than all that, this also happens in winter at 6.30 a.m.; many times wardens sprout out of nowhere and book you. When challenged as to who is the dog annoying at that time, the warden’s reply is always that the Sliema local council is insisting on the action. Fining someone for allowing his dog free exercise on a deserted beach at sunrise is sheer cruelty to animals and mere extortion of money from citizens.

I do not want, in any way, to defend those who fail to clean their dog’s fouling. Any fine in excess of €1,000 for this offence is justified, in my opinion. I also understand those who, although they do not hate dogs, don’t want them anywhere near them. However, that does not give them, or anyone else, the right to selfishly inflict heartless rules onto the poor creatures.

In my mind, the solution is a simple comprise: dogs should be allowed to freely exercise on the beaches and swim during times when the beaches are not crowded, say between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.

One hopes that, by the end of the consultative period, prior to the introduction of the by-laws, a rational outcome will prevail.