Thirty Years of Walking the Dog

As a long-time resident and dog-owner in Bellerive I have seen a number of changes to dog management in Clarence. When we were given our first dog we were not even allowed to walk dogs along the foreshore. The reason given when I was spoken to by the dog ranger was that people might walk in dog poo - the concept of doggy waste bags had not even been thought of. At the same time, on more than one occasion I saw people with dogs on leads, walking along the footpath, allow their dog to deposit their poo in our front garden which did not have a fence.

I don’t think any of us would like to return to those times. Since then, the foreshore path has become an outstanding facility for walkers, cyclists, scooters, pram walkers and, last but not least, dog walkers. There is ample provision of dog-waste bags and bins, which are well used in spite of some claims to the contrary. We often use them to transfer rubbish left by humans to the nearest bin.

Bellerive Beach has been a favourite place for all our dogs, both for exercise and for socialising. We often learn the name of a new dog on the beach before we know the owner’s name. Water dogs particularly enjoy the opportunity for a swim. In my experience, the majority of dog owners are responsible, keep their dogs under effective control, clean up after their dogs and are friendly and cheerful. I feel sorry for those whose experience has been different, because a morning walk on Bellerive Beach has always been pleasant and relaxing for me. It is worth noting that for much of the year the early morning walkers are nearly all dog owners, especially on dark winter mornings.

in summary, I would say that Clarence currently has a very good balance between dog-free, on-lead and off-lead areas, along with some lovely playgrounds which provide great enjoyment for children and families. I really cannot see the need to place further restrictions on dogs and their families.