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Dogs on Beach Debated

Do dogs' rights to run on the beach trump people's rights to poop-free sand for play and leisure? That was at the core of a public debate at last week's Board of Selectmen's meeting. Nearly 50 residents came out to share their views about a proposed town ordinance that, if adopted, would keep dogs off town beaches and alcohol consumption away from town parks.

Although three speakers spoke passionately in favor of allowing dogs on the beach, most held the opposing view supporting the restrictions. Some speakers suggested a compromise that would keep dogs off the beach seasonally, perhaps from April through September. Others urged that dogs be banned from the beach at all times in order to protect public health and beach water quality.

Some speakers suggested another compromise might be for the town to ban them from the beach, but create a dog park where they could run, as the towns of Clinton and Essex have done.

"I'm a dog lover, but every night, there's a fair number of people who walk their dogs [on the beach] and don't pick up-and then a three year old dumps sand on their head. It's an absolute health hazard," said Don Harger. "I do not believe [dogs] belong on the beach."

Pat Marcarelli, president of the West Beach Association, tried to quantify the poop problem for town leaders.

"We are dealing with feces on the beach. [The beach association] employs two to five individuals to keep the beaches clean from the Town Beach to the Elks Club," Marcarelli said. "We spend $1,000 for doggie poop bags; we've bought 8,000 bags this year-and we've never asked the town for a dime."

He also reminded the selectmen that if they allow dogs to enter town property, the town also assumes some liability for their misbehavior. He said that in the last two weeks alone there have been two dog attacks on the beach.

Speaking as a town resident, not as the beach association president, Marcarelli said, "I think the ordinance and regulations are good, but they need to be fine-tuned," adding that he would support perhaps banning dogs from the beach during the summer season.

He also noted that as written, the ordinance would also ban dogs from the grass next to the beach because that's part of the beach area.

Rosemary Mastrobattisto spoke out against the ordinance as written.

"I'm not in support of the ordinance. I would be in favor of no dogs on the beach from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but if it's an ordinance, then it needs to be enforced," she said.

Kevin Cook also spoke against the ordinance.

"We enjoy walking our dog-and we carry bags with us [to pick up after the dog]. I do understand the issue during the peak months," he said. "There should be a compromise-maybe [no dogs] from Labor Day to Memorial Day."

Steve Weiss of Bellstone remarked that if dogs were banned from the beach, owners would just walk them on the sidewalk and the dogs would poop on people's lawns.

For most of the speakers, though, the public health issue of the dog feces left behind was too important to ignore. A Seaside Avenue resident said she observes that there's a lot of dog poop left behind each day by dogs and their owners.

"I live with a research scientist. Ringworm [in dog feces] is a problem and parasites from feces last for months and months. A lot of people walk barefooted on the beach and on the grass next to it," she said. "And you don't always get up all of the feces, even when you pick it up."

Agreeing, Don Harger added, "I talked to the Visiting Nurses and they said you can get this right through your [bare] feet. It's a very dangerous health hazard."

But it was Roger Galvin's whose comment lightened the evening discussion: "No dog has ever gone into therapy because they haven't gone on the beach."

When public comment closed, Selectman John Hall asked for more information from the Board of Education about the costs of maintaining school fields and keeping them clear of feces. He also asked that the board consider the idea of a dog park.

Selectman Christopher Ehlert agreed with Hall and said, "For me, this has been about public health and safety. This is about deterring behavior. It's about keeping animals off town property."

The Board of Selectmen will again discuss the proposed Use of Town Properties ordinance at its next meeting. All town ordinances must be approved by both the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting to become effective.