Surfers urgent appeal to dog owners and Councils.

Surfers Against Sewage are appealing to dog owners to be responsible and clean up after their pets. The UK's beaches are being heavily utilised by dog walkers as the foot and mouth outbreak continues to restrict access to areas usually used by the public. Unfortunately a large percentage of dog walkers seem to think that it is someone else's job to clean up after their pets!

Vicky Garner of SAS said today;

"SAS are asking the public to use some common sense. It seems that few people are actually thinking about the pressure that is being put on our beaches at the moment. With usual dog walking areas inaccessible, everyone is heading to the beach but it appears that those who are unused to using the beaches are also unused to cleaning up after their dogs. Our beaches are a valuable resource, for locals, recreational water users and visitors to the region. Not only does dog mess look unsightly it also presents a very real risk to public health".

"SAS also urge local Council's to address this issue urgently. There appears to be a lack of disposal facilities available at the vast majority of beaches and where those facilities do exist, emptying of bins is not happening frequently enough. Local Councils must be able to react quickly to situations such as this".