Did you know that dogs are allowed on Fort Myers Beach, but they MUST be on a leash? Several members of the MERTF committee said Thursday morning that dogs off their leash are harrassing and killing birds.
MERTF committee member Jennifer Rusk said her phone is blowing up every day with people calling her to tell her dogs off their leash are chasing down birds. Committee member Rob Howell said dogs are also killing each other on the beach and he has pictures to prove it. Rusk said this has been a “subject for the last 5 years and has been brought to council for the last 5 years.” She added that kids are also being attacked by dogs.
Howell added enforcing fines will help with the town’s budget defecit.
Committee liason John King said he will bring the issue back to the Town Council and ask for additional signage which seem to still be missing since Hurricane Ian wiped them out. It’s hard for people to understand what the rules are about dogs on the beach of there are no signs.
Dogs off leash are not only FMB residents but many are visitors……not uncommon to watch people arrive to the beach late afternoon and head out with their dog…..only steps into the walk, they remove the leash so that their dog can run free! It’s great for Fido to get exercise, but not at the expense of our shore birds that have slowly returned after the hurricane. I have seen this many, many times. We need the beach patrol to be monitoring this and issuing tickets from morning to dusk. Some people have no respect for our leash law. After a few tickets, word would get around…..maybe some publicity in local papers and NewPress that the leash law will be enforced?
The bigger issue is killing the birds and attacking kids. Those dog owners should be heavily fined just for those two actions. Restrict those dogs from the beach. I assume an off leash infraction is a minor ticket.
Please post pictures , police reports and any written statements. If MERTF member phone is blowing up on a daily basis, she should easily be able to provide some proof of her claims.