Riva Residents Petition to Remove Dog Area Ban on Purfina Promenade
It is not the whim of some persistent, albeit isolated, animal lover who also wants to walk with their dog along the promenade that runs alongside the Rivana beach during summer.
The petition to annul the municipal resolution that from June to September designates the «friends of man» area as off-limits has already been signed by over two hundred and fifty people.
«This result was achieved without mobilizing crowds to persuade the signatories. The collection of signatures in Riva and Arco is still ongoing» — comments Sonia Buzzi, the enterprising lady from Sant’Alessandro who initiated this unusual campaign and runs a newsstand in Arco — «and the number is undoubtedly set to increase.»
Reactions and motivations behind the petition
Allegedly, the protest could have gained much broader support if it had been more widely publicized. I limited myself to bringing the signature sheets to some Rivana stores and displaying them in my own. People understood the issue».
The woman finds the restrictions imposed by the municipality absurd. «Walking my dog on a leash along the promenade of the Purfina beach causes no disturbance to the nearby crowd of bathers; naturally, the walker must have the necessary (a scoop and a bag) for the animal’s needs.
If there are then the usual rude individuals who break the rules, it is right for the municipal police officer to fine them, even heavily. It’s a matter of common sense. I think it’s too restrictive in summer, during my daily walk with my dog, to avoid the lake area and have to pass through the congested and noisy Viale Rovereto.»
I am not a second-class citizen to have to endure such conditions. I believe I can also speak on behalf of all the people who own these animal friends».
Next developments of the petition
Soon, the energetic lady from Rivana will deliver her signed petition to the town hall. What will be the response of the responsible authorities at Palazzo Pretorio? Will they continue to prohibit dogs, even on a leash, from using the Purfina promenade, or will they remove the ban considering the substantial popular support?