GEORGE NEWS - The George Municipality has appealed to dog owners to not take their dogs onto the George beaches with Blue Flag status as this affects the status of these beaches.
"To adhere to the Blue Flag international standards at all the George beaches, it is imperative to enforce strict rules of no dogs on the sand areas of beaches," says Chantèl Edwards, chief of communications.
The prohibition of dogs on beaches is also in line with the municipality’s by-law on the keeping of dogs, cats and animals.
Wilderness Beach, Herold’s Bay and Victoria Bay have full Blue Flag status and Leentjiesklip has Pilot status for the 2024 festive season.
Blue Flag is an international coastal management programme that accredits beaches that meet standards of excellence in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and information as well as safety and services. The Wildlife Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA) implements the programme in South Africa. The Blue Flag season runs from 1 December 2024 to 31 January 2025.
"Dog excrement can contaminate the water and jeopardise the Blue Flag status of our beaches - even if the dog poop excrement is picked up. Dog owners are therefore warned to keep dogs on a leash and off the sandy areas at the beaches. Law enforcement officers will not hesitate to act against those who do not adhere to the by-laws," says Edwards.
The by-law also states that no dog or other animal may be in any public street or public space (any open public space the public has access to which falls under the George municipal jurisdiction, for example beachfronts, parks, sports fields and sidewalks) except on a leash and under control. This is unless the animal is in an area designated by the George Municipality as a free-running area.
A person is not allowed to walk a dog other than a guide dog, on a beachfront, a public street, public place, without carrying enough plastic or paper bags or wrappers, to place the excrement into, in the event of the dog defecating.
Note that dogs are allowed on the sidewalk areas (tarred, brick-paved, etc) of beachfronts, if these conditions are adhered to.
The beach areas under the control of the George Municipality include Herold’s Bay, Gwaiing River Mouth Beach, Victoria Bay and the Leentjiesklip and Wildnerness beach areas up to the NSRI (Salina’s Restaurant). The area to the ast of Salina’s Restaurant falls under Sanparks.
The map below indicates the areas along Wilderness Beach where dogs MAY be walked on the beach.
The George Municipal By-Law may differs from that of other municipalities.
"Animal owners leaving on vacation should please ensure that their animals are cared for by a reliable person or at an animal boarding facility such as kennels or catteries. We ask dog owners to familiarise themselves with the map of SANParks to see where dogs are allowed on beaches and where they are not," says Edwards.
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