Your article on dogs (17 November) is a sad reminder of the adage… give them an inch and they want a mile.
Walking along Belongil Beach used to be one of my greatest joys, but alas the number of dogs hurtling along our once pristine sands makes the journey somewhat less enjoyable. Very large dogs barrelling towards you because their owner feels it is okay to throw a tennis ball straight towards you is somewhat scary, but the response by the owner when you mention this is even scarier – ‘this is a dog beach so get off it if you are not happy with having dogs on the beach’.
Apparently many owners feel that it is their God given right to behave in a thoughtless, uncaring and even reckless way. The other issue is the wonderful array of dog shit that one has to manoeuvre around just to walk our beach, whilst oblivious owners wander off in front of their dogs. Unfortunately Byron is a very popular place to come and stay and Belongil offers many, many ‘dog friendly’ accommodations. I love dogs myself but the number of dogs on our beach is becoming a real concern.
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. 
