Banning dogs from swimming in the sea is no novelty and regulations, based on World Health Organisation guidelines, have been around since 2008, according to the Health Ministry.
Listing the many illnesses transmitted by animals, Health Minister Joseph Cassar said he preferred to “err on the side of caution”.
He was reacting to the public furore over the government’s rules that bar animals from swimmers’ zones after enforcement was recently stepped up. Fines for breaking the law could reach €4,500.
The law was clear, he said, stating that beaches populated by humans should not have animals bathing too, especially on sand, which harbours lots of bacteria – not just from faeces but also from the urine that seeps through.
“We are not saying you cannot take your animals to swim; you just cannot use the 87 official bathing areas,” Dr Cassar said.
Standing on the rocky shore of St George’s Bay, he pointed at the animal excrement that dotted the area, saying it was full of bacteria and that some “irresponsible pet owners do not have the decency to remove it and throw it in a nearby bin”.
Since 2008, the Environmental Health Directorate has taken court action against those who, for example, take their horses to bathing areas.
Banning animals from beaches was also a prerequisite to obtain Blue Flag status, the directorate said.
Cigarette butts were also strewn around the rocky area of the bay, where a sample of the water was taken by directorate officials as part of their regular monitoring programme, started in 2005 and carried out throughout the bathing season.
The directorate collects weekly samples from the islands’ 87 bathing zones and issues a weekly report to classify them according to their water quality, identifying them by specific signs.
In 2010, three warnings were issued against swimming in three bays and these were closed for between three and five days. A total of 2,400 samples were taken and 4,008 tests carried out.
But since monitoring started during this bathing season, all bays are in conformity with the law and the majority have been classified as “excellent”, the directorate said.
Last year, Malta placed second in a classification of the cleanest seas in the EU in a European Commission report.
The results showed that the state of its beaches has improved – until seven years ago half its bays did not meet the established EU parameters.
According to the report, only Xgħajra was classified as “satisfactory” – as opposed to “excellent” – and was already improving, thanks to the sewage treatment plant that started operating this year.
HEALTH MINISTRY STATEMENT
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said it disagreed with the original heading of this story - Animals too dirty for beaches - saying that the minister denied having said those words or placing responsibility on animals.
The ministry said it is the duty of owners of animals to act responsibly. As was reported, animals, including dogs and horses, may be taken to the sea in areas which are not designated bathing areas.
However, respect for other people is needed since,every year, there are cases of illnesses contracted from animals. Such illnesses needed to be avoided because of the serious danger they pose, the ministry said.