Good to see others concerned about the unconscionable behaviour of some of our local dogs owners when using our beaches (Ralph and Rennie Johnston/Oct 7).
To Ralph and Rennie I say, they just don’t give a stuff!
Over the long weekend I approached visitors playing with their dog at the Belongil estuary. They were very apologetic and clearly confused about where dogs were and were not allowed to be and why.
However as I was leaving the beach, where there is a large sign saying no dogs and bird breeding ground, I was almost knocked over by two large bull terriers bounding onto the beach. When I spoke to their owner, obviously a local and in no mood to be called to account, I was told openly that he couldn’t care less and would exercise his dogs there no matter what. Besides, it was too hard to get in to town where the dog friendly beach was waiting.
It seems it is impossible to police our beaches and signs which appeal to people’s consciences are blatantly avoided by knowing dog owners.
I tell offenders there are rangers, but are there?
And a bin at the entrance to this fragile part of our beach scape would not go astray. Even if I do remove offending excrement and beer bottles et al, there is absolutely nowhere to dispose of them without carrying the stinking rubbish several kilometres to my own home!
Council and resort developers – we, the local community, need your help to keep our beaches as pristine and protected as humanely possible.
Jan Hackett, Sunrise Beach
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
