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Not banning dogs leaves a health risk

11:04am Wednesday 8th October 2008


By not passing a bylaw banning dogs from certain of the beaches in its care, Wirral Council, especially John Hale as tourism committee chairman, has allowed its residents and visitors to remain innocently liable to nasty diseases.

The bodily waste products of dogs comprise many human pathogens, including eye worms, alimentary tract worms, liver worms and diseases too numerous to mention, especially so if you read this before a meal.

Dog owners allow their animals to foul any and every public place. It is not sufficient to clean up afterwards as, by then, the ground has been contaminated.

Why do most owners not train their dogs to use their gardens? The answer is simple. They do not like having their gardens fouled. Our beaches are our pride and one of the reasons why we have so many visitors.

Any person catching disease or worm, etc from dog ordure on a beach that could have had a ban applied to it, should take action against the council because it know of the dangers, has failed to act and, therefore, is in breach of health and safety regulations.

If other boroughs can apply a ban, then so can ours. Cigarette smoking has been banned for the sake of the health of 70% of the population, why not dog fouling where children play?

John Hutchinson, West Kirby.


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c griffiths, wallasey says...
11:52am Wed 8 Oct 08

In reply to mr john Hutchinson's letter I am really pleased that this law wasn't passed, I wonder wether he has ever gone the beach has he not seen the piles of broken bottles and discarded waste and condoms, which i really don't think was left by my dog or any others, but by inconsiderate people . Does he not consider this a danger? I always pick up after my dog although he goes in my garden most of the time and on the beach all he does is run after his ball and hes happy, If taking that away from him makes you happy Mr Hutchinson I think thats sad.

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P.Gall, leasowe says...
8:47am Thu 9 Oct 08

what a society we live in when there are people around who resort to wanting to ban dogs on health and safety grounds.If a dog is looked after by a responsible owner it is not germ and worm ridden, but just like there are clearly some very dangerous dogs which are banned there are some irresponsible dog owners who do not pick up the mess after their.Banning dogs from beaches at all times is not the answer (maybe in summertime til a certain time of the evening maybe.)The fact is the beaches are not policed properly, probably because dogs and their owners do not come complete with a registration plate ready to be noted down by a eager eyed warden so that they can add another £60 or so to council coffers.The problem is probably all down to money again, no profit equalls no wardens!!

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Screaming, Unreasonable Man, Birkenhead says...
11:47am Mon 13 Oct 08

Beaches are naturally unhygienic places where sewage, dead animals, excrement and other unpleasant things are naturally washed up by the sea, that's why beaches smell the way they do.

The stink popularly believed to be ‘ozone’ is actually the smell of rotting seaweed. Of course in one extreme way banning dogs from the beaches might protect dogs from many of the health hazards to which they would be exposed on the beaches, but in practice such a ban would be merely another example of spiteful treatment of the law-abiding, like charging for parking in Birkenhead until 6.30pm when most of the shops close at 5.00pm and most of the bus ‘services’ have finished by 6.00pm!

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globe, wirral says...
4:08pm Tue 14 Oct 08

The problem is that dog owners think they have a right to 'enjoy letting my dog run free on the beach' - but that doesn't give them a right to do it. The dogs terrify small children and regularly spoil days out. Often the dogs behave aggressively. I commend the walled garden at Royden Park - the only little dog-free oasis on the Wirral and the only place (apart from my own garden) where I can relax and watch my children play without looking over my shoulder for stupid carniverous animals. One day, dogs (other than working dogs) will be banned in areas where people live. It's a necessary result of our overcrowded times - and will be the only silver lining.
Other things that people enjoy:-
- riding motorbikes around in parks.
- smoking in restaurants
- vandalising property
- scratching cars with keys.
Maybe these, like letting dogs run free on beaches should be regarded as fair. After all, the perpetrators are having a good time - and hang the rest of us.

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Screaming, Unreasonable Man, Birkenhead says...
12:27pm Wed 15 Oct 08

Apart from the fact that our lords and masters have recently made it illegal, what is wrong with smoking in restaurants? Until the ban diners had been doing it for centuries, as it aids the digestion.

A far worse menace is surely poorly-disciplined children making noise and running riot in restaurants whilst their doting parents look on, oblivious to the misery they are causing everyone else.

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globe, wirral says...
4:18pm Wed 15 Oct 08

Ah - but children are people too. Maybe they don't like you sitting around the place being all static. Who is to say who is right?

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Screaming, Unreasonable Man, Birkenhead says...
2:45pm Thu 16 Oct 08

But Globe, Wirral,

I'm PAYING through the nose for food service, not a grandstand seat in a kindergarten.

Even children have to sit “static” to eat or they make themselves sick or get painful indigestion. Then the interminable crying and howling starts. Parents who allow their children to get into this state are unfit.

In the event of my evening being ruined by selfish parents I shall demand a discount from the proprietor of the restaurant by way of compensation and in future I shall spend my money elsewhere.

Restaurateurs know on which side their bread is buttered.

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globe, wirral says...
5:22pm Thu 16 Oct 08

Well - I guess those happy large tables full of families will have to go if they think they will lose your 'table for 1'.
:')

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Screaming, Unreasonable Man, Birkenhead says...
1:31pm Fri 17 Oct 08

Er, I never eat out alone, which is why an atmosphere conducive to enjoyable, relaxed conversation is so important, and we spent a lot when we dine out. Neither do I have an expense account which is why I expect an enjoyable experience for my hard-earned money.

On the other hand poorly-reared children are ordered cheaper food, which they pick at or tip onto the tables, chairs and floors along with the cutlery making even more unnecessary work for the waiting staff who are already having to bite their lips as they have to step over and around the little dears all over the floor as their parents aren’t capable of bringing them up properly to behave in public.

This seems to be a British problem, my experiences of children in restaurants in the rest of Europe has been fine.

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jimisugly, Birkenhead says...
3:04pm Tue 2 Dec 08

I would just like to say - you have gone off at a tangent. This article was regarding dogs on beaches, not children in restaurants.

There is always going to be a 50/50 split on people who are for and against dogs. I as a dog owner love to take my dog to the beach. He is well behaved and children come to stroke him and play. IF and i mean IF my dog has ever fouled, i immeadiately clean it up and put it in the bin. He would usually go in my back garden, but when you've got to got, you've got to go.

As for Mr Hutchinson's comment of "Dog owners allow their animals to foul any and every public place. It is not sufficient to clean up afterwards as, by then, the ground has been contaminated" at least responsible dog owners do clean up unlike the adults i see urinating against the wall.

You can argue as much as you like, protest, get a petition signed for all i care. It won't help, as there will be just as many dog lovers on the opposite side to you, doin excatly the same thing. Live with it, or move.

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katryn, Birkenhead says...
10:42am Tue 9 Dec 08

Its about are pavements were cleaned up because of the endles piles of dog and human excrement.
Am sick of saying to the kids when were out and about to watch were their walking.
Grange Road and streets nearby are full of it and its disgusting.

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katryn, Birkenhead says...
5:24pm Tue 9 Dec 08

Would you believe i wrote this morning my lad whos usually careful were he walks stood in a nice fresh pile of poop.
Needless to say i was fuming and he was upset as it had gone on to his school pants as he started to walk before we noticed it:(

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raymond38, Noctorum says...
1:05pm Fri 2 Jan 09

Mr Hutchinson, you like many others on different subjects carry on as if it is a new problem, realistically don't you think you are quite a few years to late.
Or has dog excrement suddenly become more toxic.

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