Campaign hopes to ease controls on Pooch access in Dubai

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Campaign hopes to ease controls on Pooch access in Dubai Dog owners are campaigning for a dedicated space to take their pets for a walk, saying they have been left with virtually no options due to the existing ban on beaches, parks and streets. More than 3,000 pet owners have become members of the Dubai Dog Beach Campaign and are using the new online ‘Smart Majlis’ system to get their voices heard. At present, Dubai Municipality laws state that dogs are not allowed to enter parks, shopping malls or beaches. Owners are also not allowed to walk their dogs on the streets without being on a lead. The fine for breaching this is is Dhs400. The municipality has this week turned down the group’s request for a 100m stretch of beach, but the group said it will continue pushing. British expat Lis Maclean, 47, said: “I’ve lived in Dubai for 16 years and I’ve had dogs for 11 years. I never had a problem with walking my dog on the Jebel Ali beach. “But lately, I’ve been asked to take my dog off the beach or else I’ll be fined. “What we need is a dedicated space where we can take our dogs for a walk and swim on the beach. It doesn’t have to be a massive space, but give us something. “We aren’t disturbing anyone. Our dogs are friendly, trained and our part of our family. If I want to exercise I go to the gym, but swimming is a good way of exercise for our dogs.” Another owner, British photographer Cameron Clegg, 35, said that he’s faced a similar problem at Jebel Ali Beach. He used to walk his dog on part of JBR beach but it closed down after the Dubai Eye construction was started. Clegg said: “One of the dogs I have I rescued from Abu Dhabi. Our dogs are very social and they enjoy a walk on a beach. They aren’t harming anyone.” Dubai Dog Beach Campaign founder Caroline Jane, submitted the proposal through the nre Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Majlis initiative. The municipality said in response: “We would like to inform you that after evaluation it has been found that your idea is infeasible due to the following limitation in public beaches areas in Dubai.” Another member, Caroline Labouchere, said the group would go back to the authorities and suggest getting access with a licence or by way of annual fee. sarwat@7days.ae Read the original story at: Campaign hopes to ease controls on Pooch access in Dubai