WEATHER »

Doggie-Bag Blight

Friday, September 23, 2011
By Paul Petrich Jr., S.B.

I volunteered for the third year in a row to help clean up Santa Claus Lane’s beautiful dog-friendly beach last Saturday during Coastal Clean-up Day. Thirty volunteers worked for over three hours to gather over 300 pounds of trash, from buried tires and dumped commercial plumbing waste to the ever-present plastic bags. However, the most disgusting of all the trash collected, and the one seemingly on the increase at Santa Claus Lane, was dog waste “dutifully” placed in plastic or disposable bags, then thrown on the beach or in nearby bushes.

Twenty-two still intact “doggie bags” were picked up by yours truly this year! Is this sanitation stupidity or aristocratic arrogance? Why don’t we hear a call from responsible dog owners about this growing blight to dog-friendly beaches in our county?

Responsible parents for a long time have shamed irresponsible parents who leave dirty disposable diapers on our beaches. Two were found this time to compared to the 22 doggie bags. Maybe some of the more-responsible-dog-owners majority can look at the example our local surfer culture has contributed to our beach sanitation and environment: Surfers as a group were once the most notorious for trashing the beaches they frequented. Congratulations to them for growing up!

To gain an example of what can be done the right way on this issue, visit Rincon Point’s Surfer Park at the Santa Barbara-Ventura County line!

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