Remove signs from dog-friendly beach
Ettalong beach, from in front of The Box restaurant up to the ferry at Booker Bay, has always been a dog-friendly beach.
It has always been one where families, their fur babies, elderly and their companion dogs can co -habit on the beach front even though there was a small dog sign in amongst the bushes.
The emotional, physical and mental well-being of all those who use this beach is very important to the folks and their dogs.
The social life of so many elderly and new families have found on this beach front over the years has always been an important part of living on the Coast while sharing the beach with their fur babies.
It is an ideal beach for the smaller dogs who cannot run with the larger dogs in other areas allowing dogs to run free.
The risk of the smaller dogs being knocked over and hurt is a real factor and this also applies to the elderly and young children.
Also there are many families with young children both local and tourists and also the elderly and disabled who can not swim at the surf beaches due to the waves and the uneven current of strong waves.
Over the past few months the support from locals and tourists to have the signs removed has been overwhelming.
Should the signs remain it will impact greatly on the tourism here which will affect many local businesses.
Tourists come to the Peninsula because they could bring their fur babies with them.
The beach up to the ferry is always maintained by dog owners who are very aware of keeping the beach clean and cleaning after their dogs.
Locals who use this beach 12 months of the year are aware of any rubbish left on beach and constantly clean the beach especially after tourists holidays.
The beach attracts not just dog owners but folks like myself who do not have dogs but still find the joy of meeting and sharing social life with dog owners.
Many local residents are ratepayers and they should be able to freely enjoy the beach with their fur babies as should all locals.
SOURCE:
Email, 18 Aug 2022
Dianne Garland, Woy Woy