Dogs stink up Cape beaches

2002-12-16 09:28

Carel van Dyk

Cape Town - Dog excrement on Cape beaches is causing a smelly problem for the city council. That is why the council will try to set uniform laws for all Cape beaches and recreational areas before July next year, Wouter Loots, head of solid refuse removal of the city council, said.

Loots said the beaches only recently became part of the mopping-up area of the Cape Town solid refuse department. Different rules apply to different beaches and parks. At the moment, law enforcement agents may only act against owners in places where dogs are banned.

"During a recent once-off cleaning session on Hout Bay beach, we picked up nearly five manure bags full of dog faeces," Loots said.

This city council uses special equipment, towed by a tractor, to clean up the beaches. This machine scrapes the sand about 30cm deep and removes all refuse before throwing out the sand again.

"We put aside an additional R6.4m to clean the Cape and its beaches over the festive season. People must take responsibility for their animals - if they mess, the owners have to pick it up."

- Die Burger