In response to Alison Drover’s opinion piece (November 17, 2021). She said Byron is not a ‘doggie destination’ and ‘Byron Shire is founded on biodiversity in nature’. Well, I remember Byron when it was an industrial town with sand mining, slopes covered in banana crops with toxic run-off, and two abattoirs. You could hear the cows bellowing as they awaited slaughter.
In all my 50 years of owning dogs, I have never had one of my dogs kill any wildlife. We feed them, so they don’t need to kill to eat. Oh sure, they may chase a flock of gulls or terns, but not to catch them. It’s just animal fun, and the birds handle it well and land a little further up the beach.
Our habitat destruction has way more impact on wildlife than our dogs, and we don’t ban people. We humans kill ten thousand times more native animals by driving our cars, but we wouldn’t consider banning cars.
Dog prohibition laws are aimed at the worst possible dogs. Fighting dogs need to be kept on a short leash around other dogs. But the vast majority of dogs are good-natured and fit in well with the natural world.
Dogs and humans are ancient companions, living together for at least 30,000 years. Dogs hunted with us, guarded us from big cats and bears, and kept us warm on those cold Ice-Age nights. Human clans with dogs out-evolved those without dogs. Arguably, we humans would not have survived if we had not teamed up with dogs.
When a Council committee gathers to create new guidelines for dogs, it inevitably means more restrictions. This Shire works fine the way things are. There are already a lot of restrictions on where dogs can go. We don’t need any more.
It’s a real privilege sharing a life with another species. Dogs are loyal, loving and FUN and they bring enormous joy into many people’s lives. Dog love is very special. We just need to live and let live and be grateful for the love of dogs.
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. 
