Let me begin by saying that I am in agreement with the Birenbaums that it is incredibly rude and thoughtless of people to let their dogs use the beach as a public restroom and not to clean up after them. I think it is endemic to the influx of the “Nouveaux Rude” as I refer to them. Having said that, I defend the right of dog owners to walk their dogs on the beach. I think it’s time to change the arcane laws that the Birenbaums have dredged up.
I don’t own a dog, but in the 54 years I have lived on the beach, I can honestly say that I have never seen an incident of a dog attacking anyone. Never, and I walk the beach every day. That’s not to say that it hasn’t happened, but it isn’t the plague that the Birenbaums make it out to be.
When the ocean gets polluted, it’s not because of dog droppings, it’s because human waste and chemical pollutants have been allowed to flow into the ocean. On Nidia/Cookie Cutter’s show, she films the “evil” dogs and then cuts away to the innocent dolphins. I wonder where she thinks the dolphins relieve themselves? How about whales? I’m sure they excrete as much in a day as all the dogs in Malibu do in a year. Perhaps Ms. Birenbaum-Cutter would have us build whale latrines off the coast of Catalina. Whales not in compliance with regulations could be cited.
When not interfered with by humans, the ocean has a way of cleaning itself. I think people should clean up after their dogs, and I don’t think that dogs help the situation, but they certainly are not a major contributing factor to the terrible pollution of our oceans.
I love seeing dogs run freely on the beach. Knowing the horror that is the life of most of the dogs on this planet, it makes me happy to watch these well loved animals experience their freedom. Dogs are programmed to run freely, not to live their lives on chains. It’s the abused dogs that we need to worry about (on any number of levels), not the well loved ones. In some parts of Los Angeles, dogs are used as weapons. That just isn’t the case here. Animals heal us. They lower our blood pressure. They make us laugh. They love us unconditionally. Why tie these generous creatures up?
In Ms. Birenbaum-Cutter’s public access show, she bitterly complains that dogs sniff her. I find that rather amusing. What I don’t find amusing is that she misquotes people and makes up “facts.”
There are very real and frightening problems in the world today. I just don’t think dog poop is one of them. I would suggest to Ms. Cutter that instead of giving citations to people on the beach, she hand them a plastic bag instead. I would suggest that she concentrate on the incredible beauty that surrounds us rather than the poop that annoys her so. We are so blessed to live here. We are also at war. This is a time to unite, not to insist upon getting our own way. I think we should put the matter on the ballot. I agree that people should be cited if they leave dog waste behind them. Apart from that, I suggest we all live and let live.
Kendra Davis