BY ARTHUR GREENHALF

After the recent demonstration against the new restrictions on dog walking, scores of people took to the Echo comments section, preaching about the evils of canines.

What did dogs do to deserve this hatred?

Dogs are loving and caring creatures who bring joy to millions of lives. Dogs provide companionship for the elderly and keep them walking, which reduces the risk of developing a multitude of illnesses, for example Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Owning a dog educates children on responsibility, and dog walking is an excellent way to socialise for any generation.

So why is it that people get so angry with them?

Irresponsible owners, who don’t care for their pets properly and don’t pick up their waste.

However, restricting the time that dogs are allowed on the beach will do nothing to impact this problem.

As a dog owner who walks along the Esplanade in the morning, I have seen first-hand all of the dog walkers still using the rest of the beach.

No fines are being issued and walkers are still using the beach. The council needs to remove this useless restriction that does nothing to tackle the real issue of dog waste disposal.