Pet Owners Urge Beach Access as Signatures Fail to Lift Dog Ban

In last November, the mayor Malossini‘s desk received the 430 signatures from citizens urging the municipality to lift the ban on dogs wagging their tails around the beaches from June to October.

The petition had no effect, and so, again this summer, dogs and their owners had to keep a proper distance from Purfina and the surrounding areas.

To the great dismay of numerous North European tourists, accustomed to more permissive rules in their home countries (where, however, no owner leaves their Fido’s feces on the street), as well as many Italian tourists.

The testimonies of citizens and the needs of pet owners

Rosaria Renna is among them, even though she was born in Riva. However, every year, punctually, she returns from Garbagnate Milanese, where she has moved, to her hometown for a vacation period.

“Unfortunately, for the past few years, my husband and I take turns taking our holidays, because one of us has to stay at home with our little poodle, to which he, I, and my children are very attached.

For this reason, we don’t even consider the idea of putting her in an animal boarding facility.

It’s incredible that the municipality doesn’t consider establishing even a small section of beach where dogs can also stay.

An equipped area, we mean, with a dispenser of pooper scoopers and bags, and with bins for collecting excrement.

I’m the first to support strict rules for those who do not respect basic hygiene regulations: I work in the ecology department of the Garbagnate municipality, and I have fought for the closure of most urban parks to dogs, especially those frequented by children.

But at the same time, I believe it is necessary, fair, and civil to consider the needs of pet owners.

I repeat, a general “free pass” across the entire beach is not needed, but just one hundred meters. Tourists will appreciate it.”