A group of dog lovers in Virginia Beach has gone on an educational campaign for proper dog ownership etiquette on the beach in the wake of an attack that killed a toy poodle this winter.
The group, Neighbors for a Safer Beach, has distributed flyers to hotels and circulated articles in civic league newsletters, and it would like to post small signs outlining proper dog control at the Oceanfront’s waste bag stations.
Gayle Johnson began organizing the effort in January through the neighborhood networking Nextdoor app after a toy poodle named Petey was attacked and killed by another dog in December.
“We decided to tackle it with education before non-dog owners just get fed up,” said Johnson, who owns two Australian terriers.
Their etiquette guidelines tell people to keep their dog from running up to strangers, unfamiliar dogs and leashed dogs. Among the other reminders: Dogs can only be off leash when in direct voice control and when they can be recalled reliably in spite of distractions.
“Honor these standards for Petey’s sake!” the group’s sign says.
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Neighbors for a Safer Beach is trying to gain support from the North Virginia Beach Civic League for the signs to go on doggie-bag stations before they seek city approval for the move.
Councilman Jim Wood said signage is a difficult issue.
“Adding additional signage is not something the city is going to do readily,” he said.
In the attack on Petey, the Police Department was unable to investigate because it wasn’t called after the attack, Wood said.
“I don’t know that staff sees it as an issue right now,” he said. “Certainly, it’s bad if someone’s dog kills someone else’s dog. The question is – is that an isolated thing or does that happen all the time?”
There are multiple variables that need to be considered, Wood said.
The neighborhood group will likely present its sign idea to the North Virginia Beach Civic League in July, Johnson said.
Her group is also working to bring back a public service announcement TV ad that was created by the Virginia Beach Animal Control to air in hotel rooms on the Vacation Channel. Johnson also recruited two animal trainers to offer classes on the beach.
She said she wants everyone to feel comfortable on the beach. It’s unfair for people to stay away out of fear of being knocked over or attacked, she said.
“We’re trying to find middle ground,” Johnson said. “We want to keep dogs on the beach, and we want everyone to be comfortable on the beach.”
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