If the Sliema local council wanted to show their ignorance and how much they hate dogs, they certainly passed the test with flying colours!
Their latest by-law is more than ridiculous. If everyone in their normal mind agrees that dogs should not be found on beaches when there are plenty of people or in playgrounds, stupidities have limits...or maybe not.
Dogs do not spread more diseases than humans with skin infections, warts … when they go in the water. And a dog that licks a wound provides you with an excellent antiseptic. They are also creatures of God and should be given attention as well and allowed to play, run and swim.
Moreover, if the Sliema local council is so concerned about diseases, how can they explain the filth found on the beaches – condoms, syringes and needles, leftover food from barbecues, picnics and those cat feeders – are they all brought about by dogs? They attract rats and can cause serious diseases. How can they explain the vomit everywhere after the drunk students try to go home, relieving themselves in the public eye – that does not bring about diseases, or do they not know it? The constant noise from badly tuned motorcycles, cars and loud music damages the hearing, but then maybe they have an interest in the hearing aid business, so that does not matter.
People should be more responsible. I fully agree that undisciplined and uncontrolled dogs are unbearable for society at large, but so are children and people who scream and shout or even speak so loud that everyone can follow their conversation.
It is just a sheer pity that some dog haters feel it necessary to waste the taxpayers’ money implementing such idiotic by-laws when there are important issues to deal with – and maybe the very first one is to teach people to be less selfish, which would mean making less noise, driving better, behaving in a more civilised way, being more polite and understanding, in a nutshell living like a civilised nation in the 21st century, and becoming tolerant.
Could they not think? The grey cells might have been damaged... by the constant noise pollution which is so destructive.