'Serious issue' with dogs at busy Mayo area
Dog owners who use Carrowniskey Beach in Louisburgh have been asked to keep their animals on leads at all times.
Dog owners who use Carrowniskey Beach in Louisburgh have been asked to keep their animals on leads at all times,
Cllr Chris Maxwell told members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District last week that a number of people have raised concerns with him.
“There is a serious issue now with people going to the beach and letting dogs loose. It is scaring a lot of people as these dogs come bounding up, and people are afraid they will get bit. Can signage be put up as it is becoming an issue and it’s a popular tourist spot."
Cllr Brendan Mulroy said there were controversial bylaws in place that prevented dogs from being on beaches, however, it was confirmed that these only apply to Blue Flag beaches.
Cllr John O’Malley said it was vital dogs were kept under control, to avoid “what happened on the Greenway a few years back where a dog attacked a man and he ended up in hospital".
“The other thing that can happen is they can take off after sheep [which] are everywhere in that area and the [dog owner] will end up without a dog if a farmer gets a hold of them.”
Cllr Sean Carey said he agreed as dogs off the lead were extremely dangerous at this time of year with lambing going on. He said it was an awful situation especially where sheep are maimed under cover of night.
Cllr Mulroy added: “We can’t have dogs roaming the countryside and terrorising sheep. People love their dogs but a dog is a dog and they can get into trouble.”
Cllr John O’Malley said: “If you have it happen to you and it has happened to me twice, where sheep were mangled... people just don’t realise how awful an experience this is for any owner of sheep.”
Director of Services Joanne Grehan said council management could still look into the matter of dogs loose on Carrowniskey Beach.
