Press Release: Dogs Unleashed Meeting in Killiney Castle Hotel

From: Liz Neligan, Chairperson, Dogs Unleashed Association

Tel: (087) 244 9936; E-mail: info@dogs-unleashed.org; Web: www.dogs-unleashed.org

January 2012

PRESS RELEASE

There was standing room only at the public meeting on the proposed revision of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council’s dog control byelaws held at the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel on Sunday 22^nd January.  Organised by the Dogs Unleashed Campaign Group, the meeting was chaired by ‘5^th generation Dalkey dog-walker’, as he styled himself, David McWilliams, and attracted some 600 members of the public.  Also attending were Councillors John Bailey, Maria Bailey, Cormac Devlin, Patricia Stewart, Lettie McCarthy and Barry Ward.

In her opening address, Dogs Unleashed Chairman, Liz Neligan, explained that the campaign had been disappointed by the limited concessions made in the redraft of the  beach bye-laws, the first set of bye-laws to be reviewed, which will be followed by a wider review covering the parks bye-laws.  While Seapoint and Sandycove will acquire the status of dog-free zones all year round, under the current proposals, Killiney Beach, beyond a designated swimming area, will be open to unleashed dog walking but only before 10 am and after 7pm.  The rationale of that stipulation, said Liz Neligan, was hard to understand since in inclement weather dog walkers tended to be the only people using the beaches.

In a well mannered and well organised meeting both the public and invited speakers, who included the vet Pete Wedderburn and the dog behaviourist Jim Stephens, made a number of constructive suggestions.  Do not rely on dog pens, said Stephens, as they are pitifully inadequate in size and in stimulation. Possibly use dog license money for dog training classes (a practice adopted in Germany) was suggested by the assistant of a dog rescue centre.  Remember that working dogs, such as mountain rescue dogs, have to be able to run free off a leash for their sanity, came as an impassioned plea from the floor. Several speakers from the floor hoped the campaign would take in the question of walking dogs on Dun Laoghaire’s two piers as the Harbour Authority have threatened to enforce their leashing requirements more rigorously as of next week. 

When David McWilliams asked everyone present to indicate whether they were prepared to write to the Council to ask that the bye-laws be liberalised - the deadline for doing so is February 20^th at 12 noon - there was a massive show of hands. Having the freedom to walk with your dog off a lead is clearly highly valued. It should not be confused, said Liz Neligan, with the more serious issue, that affects all members of the public, of dog fouling.  Dog walkers, said Williams, tend to be moderate and the aim of Dog Unleashed was to hit the ‘sweet spot’ where the sensibilities of non-enthusiasts were met without compromising the cherished and time-honoured practice going out for a walk with one’s dog.

ENDS