I refer to the letter ‘Dog owners’ (Echo, 9 November). What a terrible experience for a six-year-old seeing the mutilated wallaby in the surf. Some ignore, others encourage their dogs’ natural predatory behaviour. We have caring humans in Maggie Brown and her grandson. It engenders hope.
A feature of the paradigm of human/animal relationship is the master/pet syndrome. I love dogs but free animals in their natural habitat are an essential part of the north coast natural experience. We have terrible vulnerability in our public reserves. We need to find a way to support our rangers.
Action is needed. May I suggest a dog-bothering meeting including BSC dog rangers, Dog Botherer T-shirts, cameras at the ready and pictures to be taken and published of dogs off-lead on non-dog beaches.
It’s a big canvas. Have you seen a ‘look-around-look’ so they don’t have to clean up their dog’s poo?
Take pictures of dogs walking at Cape Byron because all rangers are finished after 3pm. This is reflected throughout the Byron Shire – there needs to be a collective willingness to go beyond Welcome to Country to defend our wild creatures in our wild country.
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. 
