Letters to the Editor

+ Dogs should be given chance for beach access
Dear Editor:
I have to say I was very disappointed with the article regarding dogs on the beach.

It would seem the commissioners had made their decisions before the workshop had been held.

Is it not incumbent on them to at least hear both sides of the discussion? The excuse that it would divide the community is fatuous at best; the community is divided. Do dog owners who want to take their dogs on the beach not have the right to at least a fair and open discussion on the subject?

And how can it be stated the overwhelming sentiment is not to have dogs on the beach when I haven’t heard of any vote or poll that has been carried out to test this premise.

As for the contention that because most condos don’t allow dogs, therefore dogs should not be allowed on the beach, I question what that has to do with this argument at all. There are homes other than condos on this island, where we have dogs. So, on that basis, dogs should be allowed on the beach.

With regard to turtles, don’t allow dogs on the beach during that season. It’s that simple.

As to dog owners not picking up after their dogs, there are all sorts of dogs walking on Gulf of Mexico Drive, on town roads and in town parks like Joan M. Durante Park. The grass doesn’t squelch with dog urine and the sidewalks aren’t knee deep in feces in these places.

Dog owners in general are meticulous about picking up after their dogs, and if we were given the opportunity to take our dogs to the beach, you can be sure we would not wish to jeopardize this privilege by making a mess of our beach.

It would seem that a trial period would be fair, but my suggestion would be to limit the times of day for beach access, say from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. and then from 5 to 7 p.m. This would mean the majority of beach users would have left and, thus, will not be disturbed.

It seems to me that commissioners take on other divisive issues, so why don’t they grow a backbone on this issue and be representative to us all? Let this issue be dealt with in a fair and reasonable way.
Patrick Bogert,
Longboat Key