THERE has been much talk recently in the press regarding the walking of dogs on the beach.I am not a dog owner and never have been but I can sympathise with the owners who are a bit miffed about the restrictions forced on them by Waveney District Council regarding the limited periods allowed to exercise their animals, ie September to May, in restricted areas, but at the same time I can see a good reason for this.

THERE has been much talk recently in the press regarding the walking of dogs on the beach.

I am not a dog owner and never have been but I can sympathise with the owners who are a bit miffed about the restrictions forced on them by Waveney District Council regarding the limited periods allowed to exercise their animals, ie September to May, in restricted areas, but at the same time I can see a good reason for this.

The blame seems to be aimed at Waveney Council but that shouldn't be the case. The times allowed are for the protection of the general public, particularly children from the dangers of dog pollution. The allotted times are aimed at the irresponsible owners, not the responsible ones.

To me the clean owners are no problem whatsoever, but there will always be, albeit a small minority, who allow their dogs to defecate, then, if nobody is watching a quick flick of the foot covers up the evidence.

During my frequent walks along the promenade I have see this happen many times. That is why we must have specific areas to exercise dogs. The responsible owner must therefore pay for the irresponsible one. There seems no other way to solve this problem.

We have one of the best beaches in East Anglia so we must keep it safe and protect ourselves and our children from possible danger and infections from a few unscrupulous people at all times.

It is nice to see the dogs having a good frolic in the sea. Dogs are clean animals but some of their owners are not. My message to them is to clean up wherever they are.

JOHN CLARKE

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Lowestoft