Dog restrictions in Malta are going “completely in the opposite direction” when compared to modern countries, according to animal welfare campaigners.

“It just goes to show we are not an animal-friendly country,” Moira Delia of Dogs Trust said.

She was reacting to news that beach monitors were enforcing a law that could see people being slapped with a €4,500 fine if their pet was caught in a swimmers’ zone.

The Sliema local council last week proposed three new by-laws prohibiting dogs from swimming in natural pools, entering public gardens and restricting them to be kept on a leash at all times.

This decision has irked pet owners and a Facebook petition is being raised calling for dog friendly beaches in Malta. The initiative had already garnered the support of nearly 2,000 people by yesterday.

According to Ms Delia, the laws are restricting all dog owners instead of punishing bad ownership. “Enforce the law in the case of those who are irresponsible,” she said. It would be better to invest in beach wardens to make sure dogs were not being a nuisance to other bathers, she added.

Her comments were echoed by Gozo SPCA spokesman Betty Berry, who said the proposals went against the organisation’s work to make pets companion animals.

Animals should be living with people and, in turn, people needed to be exposed to animals, she said. Not allowing pets into public gardens was worsening such perception, she pointed out.

Ms Berry said the restrictions would deter people from homing rescued pets because the places one could enjoy going to with an animal were getting fewer, she said. Abroad, people could take their dogs to restaurants with them and to the park where they could run around freely, she added.

Speaking about the reason behind the law prohibiting dogs from entering into a swimmers’ zone, she pointed out that a dog swimming with people in the open sea was not a public health concern.