Out-of-towners leave your dogs at home, the West Tisbury parks and recreation committee has decided, at least if you are going to Lambert’s Cove Beach with your pooch.
On Wednesday the committee agreed to restrict dog privileges to town residents, amid increasing complaints from beachgoers who have watched sunset picnics blemished by uncontrolled canines and unretrieved dog droppings.
The problem of increasing use of the town beach by people with dogs is not new, and was a subject for discussion before the parks committee last August, when Island dog owners promised to police the problem themselves. But after an off-season that saw little improvement, committee members said it was time for more drastic measures.
“I’ve picked up bags all winter which means that it’s not just tourists,” said parks and recreation board coordinator Peggy Stone. “Some people say we should eliminate dogs altogether but we’d like not to have to do that.”
Currently Lambert’s Cove Beach is open to all dog permit holders before 10 a.m. and after 6:30 p.m., though committee members acknowledged that few people bothered to purchase the $5 permits. Permits will now cost $10 and be available only to West Tisbury residents. Ms. Stone said the increase in the permit price will pay for the beach parking lot attendant to stay on duty until 6:30 to enforce the policy. In recent years the town has supplied plastic bags to dog walkers to clean up after their pets, but the convenience has created problems of its own.
“You walk down that path and the bags hang like Christmas trees,” said West Tisbury resident Tim Ryan, who along with Rachel Hessen were the only two residents to attend Wednesday’s meeting. Both came to register their displeasure about irresponsible dog owners.
“I’ve kicked more crap off that path . . . it’s just sickening,” he said.
Mr. Ryan, who walks the beach every day of the year, claimed the problem stemmed from nonresidents who came in droves after 6 p.m., when one of the last remaining dog-friendly beaches opens its gates to canis familiaris, a subspecies of wolf.
“I’m down there every day and there’s very few Massachusetts plates,” Mr. Ryan said. “These people are only here for a week. They could care less about taking care of the beach.”
Mr. Ryan and Ms. Hessen both painted a picture of unleashed and unruly dogs knocking over beach patrons on the long ambling path to Lambert’s Cove. Dogs are required to be leashed from the parking lot to the dunes.
Enforcement remains a tricky issue; committee members acknowledged reluctance in the community to obtain the permits and a limited budget to police the policy.
“I know West Tisbury people who say there’s no way I’m going to get a permit for my dog,” said committee member Cheryl Lowe.
“We can ask [West Tisbury animal control officer] Joanie Jenkinson to have more of a presence at the beach at least at the beginning of the summer to make sure people know that this is the way it will be,” said Ms. Stone.
Along with permits, dog owners will be required to sign a contract that requires them to clean up after their dogs, keep them leashed when appropriate and have their dog permits with them on the beach. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of their permits. Ms. Stone said she would look into creating specially-made West Tisbury dog tags.
Committee members even discussed the possibility of restricting Lambert’s Cove to West Tisbury’s human residents as well, á la other up-Island beaches.
“How hard would it be to put up a sign that says West Tisbury residents only?” Mr. Ryan asked. “That would cut out so much of the riff raff.”
Committee members said that they would consider the move for next year, especially if the new measures failed to stem the plague of errant plastic bags and unleashed dogs.
“I will check with [town administrator] Jen Rand to see if that is feasible,” said Ms. Stone.
But one committee member felt that it was a step too far.
“I’m not comfortable closing the beach to nonresidents, dog or no dog,” said Lisa Amols. She instead suggested that it was incumbent upon the parks and recreation committee to aid with enforcement.
“Here’s what I want,” she said. “Give me a T-shirt that says parks and rec and a name tag and I will go out there myself and tell people to pick up after their dogs.”
Ultimately, committee members said, they were trying to maintain what was one of the last seaside dog havens on the Island.
“We’re trying to get it so we don’t have to ban the dogs,” said Ms. Lowe.
“You need to train the people,” replied Mr. Ryan.
This article appears in June 3, 2011.
What a miserable enforcement nightmare this will be. Joan’s life is busy enough already, without adding this sort of automatic-torture “legislation”.
Dogs are part of the family, but Lambert’s Cove Beach is being loved to death by too many dogs. My cousin was bit on the leg just this week, there’s dog crap in the sand, people don’t go because the beach is gaining the moniker-dog poop beach. Sorry folks. If you can’t control your dogs, you should think about others first and leave your dogs at home. To be fair, that would have to go for residents as well as for visitors during the summer. It’s sad, but the congestion is becoming an unreasonable burden to patrol and a health and safety issue. Perhaps a different venue or maybe one day a week for dog owners. There needs to be a reasonable change and compromise. What would Solomon do? Well, I hope that we don’t have to go that far, but let’s find a solution that is agreeable and fair.
Dogs allowed on beach in non-swimming weather only, September 15th to May 15th – something like that might do it. Not that I’m allowed on LCB anyway, unless I swim over. Erik, want to join me?
Christopher Gray
I bet I’ve lived on this Island a whole lot longer than Mr. Tim Ryan, whoever he is.
Once upon a time I did live in West Tisbury but I don’t now. I still have lots of friends and even relatives there and to tell the truth, I’ve never heard any of them them speak so mean-spiritedly about summer visitors or about the rest of us who live on Martha’s Vineyard year-round.
Mr. Tim Ryan is upset about the “crap” – his words not mine – he finds on his daily walks on Lambert’s Cove Beach. And he’s come to the conclusion that none of the “crap” he finds on Lambert’s cove Beach emanates from West Tisbury dogs. (Evidently West Tisbury dogs don’t “crap”.)
He feels that it all comes from individuals he refers to as “These people” who “could care less about the beach” – meaning summer visitors who just happen to be the Vineyard’s bread and butter – and also from “riffraff” – everyone else on Martha’s Vineyard who just doesn’t happen to live in West Tisbury.
Personally, I think Mr. Tim Ryan is full of you-know-what.
I would like to hear from the expert on these beach matters, Mr. Erik Albert. Paging Mr. Erik Albert? You always have a well thought out and legitimate viewpoint. Please post?
Dogs don’t belong on a bathing beach. On a sunny summer’s day, it’s too hot for dogs on the beach. And even if a dog owner does pick up after his or her dog, there is still dirty sand left behind. This is a beach where people place their towels on the sand in order to relax, and where children dig in the sand with their bare hands – bathers and children should not have to lie around on and dig in dirty sand on one of the most beautiful beaches on earth.
By the sound of things, I’m kind of glad that I’m restricted to dog-free Bend in the Road Beach.
As for Mr. Albert, I’m sure he’s laughing his head off over this.
Sara Piazza – is this perhaps … “Revenge of the Turds”?
(moderator, sorry for bad language – if you have another rhyme, please go ahead.)
As a long time visitor to MV, and a year round resident of a beach/tourist town in SC, I can TOTALLY appreciate this dog issue. It was horrific here and it was 80% from tourists, also our bread/butter, locals were not exactly responsible. Some of us took it upon ourselves to point out to dog owners all the free bags available on the crossovers, and in more than 1 case we chased down owners who did not pick up. We got verbally smacked, but the word got out we were not kidding, this is our home! We are all dog owners and don’t want to lose our beach privilegs, as has happened locally in some spots, so we had to monitor it ourselves. It has worked, and for those who do not like the new sheriffs in town, we suggest they get out a mapquest and find a place in NC…..
As usual, irresponsible humans spoil things for everyone. And I doubt that only non-residents are guilty of spoiling this paradise.
I love Lambert’s Cove Beach and LOVE bringing my dogs there for walks and swims. What a gift!! Too bad not all dog owners appreciated this privilege.
How hard is it to clean up after your dog? How thoughtless to let your dog annoy other people enjoying this priceless place?
Shame on thoughtless, careless dog owners. So sad.