August 25, 2008

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. -- Pet owners are letting their dogs roam unleashed on the beach in Southern California, unintentionally causing the deaths of dozens of marine mammals, according to a local wildlife preservationist.

Los Angeles natives rush to the beach in the spring and summer, toting their kids, their sun block, and often their dogs. Although unleashed dogs are prohibited on Southern California beaches, many dog owners see no problem with their dogs walking the beach off-leash.

Owners are unaware that many dogs are killing marine mammals.

"We had two incidents this year of elephant seals beaching themselves on the north channel of Venice Beach and being bitten by off-leash dogs,” said Peter, Wallerstein of Marine Animal Rescue, which has rescued more than 200 marine creatures this year.

“First of all, the dogs aren’t supposed to be on the beach. If they are, at least they should have them on the leash, but they weren’t. “People need to understand that it really affects marine wildlife."

Most of the animals saved by Marine Animal Rescue are on Venice and Dockweiler beaches, where the off-leash dog problem is most prevalent.

In Marina Del Ray, a sea lion was suffering from domoic poisoning, which causes seizures and tremors. It crawled up onto rocks on Dockweiler Beach to rest and recover, before being saved by Marine Animal Rescue.

“Seals, sea lions and birds that beach on the shore are sick or injured,” said Wallerstein, who founded Marine Animal Rescue’s Whale Rescue Team. “They come to the shore to rest. But because of lax leash laws, these animals have been ambushed by off-leash dogs.

“The dogs bark at them, bite them, and force them back into the water. Because they're sick, these animals can barely move and often drown as a result.

The rise in dog-seal bites has also caught the attention of Los Angeles police, who are now making regular beach patrols. If a dog, even unintentionally, disturbs marine wildlife on the beach, it can be considered a federal offense that carries a $10,000 fine and up to a year in prison.

“When seals strand on the beach, they’re very slow and they’re pretty immobile when they’re on the beach. They’re very vulnerable to a playful or aggressive dog, and they’re such limited places in this crowded society for these animals to come up and find sanctuary.

“So we want to have safe beaches so people will stay away from them and animals.
Joseph Celis and his Alaskan Shepherd, named Blue, head to the beach often. Today, like most others, Blue is on a leash at Venice Beach, but every now and then Celis allows him to stroll without it.

"I think a lot of people would prefer to have their dogs off-leash near the water, because their dogs get to run freely and pounce and play in the water,” Celis said. “But I think the majority of the people take responsibility for their animals."

With animal control officers each covering just a few miles of beach, patrols here are limited, and the result is wreaking ecological havoc.

"People bring their dogs on the beach because there’s lack of enforcement,” Wallerstein said. “There’s one animal control officer for each area during the day."

Marine Animal Rescue and Los Angeles Animal Services are working with city officials to pass stricter leash laws to prevent the deaths of more marine animals.

People that come close to an animal on the beach are advised to stay away from it, and flag down a lifeguard or contact Marine Animal Rescue immediately.

Not only are dogs dangerous to mammals that beach, but the mammals can prove harmful to the canines. Curious dogs that approach marine wildlife are often bitten, and such bites can be fatal for dogs.

"We urge people to obey the law but do what’s best for the animals and do what’s best for your dog,” Wallerstein said. “Keep them off the beach.”

For more information, visit WhaleRescueTeam.org.

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