Restrictions: Horses & Dogs in Parks/Beaches
As of May 1st, the Bermuda National Parks Act restricts dogs and horses in Parks and public beaches. The information below was provided by the Department of Parks:
Concerning Horses, the Department of Parks is informing stables, horse owners, handlers, and the general public that the 1988 Bermuda National Park Regulations under the jurisdiction of the 1986 Bermuda National Parks Act will change regarding horses on the public beaches.
Horses: The Regulations will now be as follows:
As of the 1st May 2011 until the 31st October 2011 horses are not permitted to be on any beach in South Shore Park ( inclusive of the following beaches; Horseshoe Bay, Peel Bay, Butt’s Beach, Wafer Rocks Beach, Chaplin Bay, Stonehole Bay, Jobson’s Cove and Warwick Long Bay) Johns Smith’s Bay, Elbow Beach and Shelly Bay.
From the 1st May 2011 until the 31st October 2011, owners and handlers of horses may take or ride the horses on all other public beaches with the following restrictions; owners and handlers can ONLY take or ride the horses below the high water mark between the hours or 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Horses can be on the trails and dunes in South Shore Park at any time.
The cooperation of stable owners, as well as horse owners and handlers, in abiding by the 1988 Regulations, is greatly appreciated.
Concerning dogs, the Department of Parks is informing dog owners, handlers, and the general public that the 1988 Bermuda National Park Regulations and Policies under the jurisdiction of the 1986 Bermuda National Parks Act have changed, regarding dogs in parks and on the public beaches.
Dogs: The Regulations and Policies are as follows:
As of the 1st April 2011 dogs are not permitted to be on any of the public beaches until the 31st October 2011.
Dogs can be walked either on the trails in Parks or on the dunes in South Shore Park at any time.
The dogs must be on a leash at all times.
As a reminder dogs are not permitted in the Main Show Ring in Botanical Gardens. Signs are erected informing the public of the closure.
Members of the general public are reminded that Botanical Gardens is closed to the public at sundown each day.
For health and safety reasons dogs are not allowed on the playgrounds at Clearwater Beach, Mullet Bay Park, Shelly Bay Park, Parsons Road, Admiralty.House Park, Warwick Long Bay and Death Valley.
Dogs are also NOT PERMITTED in the new Coopers Island Nature Reserve where the NASA Tracking Station was located.
The cooperation of dog owners and handlers in abiding by the Regulations and Policies is greatly appreciated.
If further information is required on any of these regulations please contact the Department of Parks at 236-5902.
This island is so Anti-dog!
If you dog owners would respect othes there would be no problem. How many of you pick up your dog crap. Would you want your child rolling over in dog crap while on a playground, beach, etc. I get tired when I am walking trying to avoid dog crap on the trails.
Another one for archaic trends of Bermuda.
How about we ban polluters on the beaches? Chicken bones, beer bottles and ice queen wrappers cause more damage on the beaches then in shape people walking their dogs and enjoying the environment.
Why not create a dog park or designated dog beaches so these people could bring their dogs too, to exercise and enjoy life together….
The responsible person is the same one who picks up their garbage AND dog poop
This is BS
JUST SAYIN.
these dog laws are ridiculous. I know that my dog loves to be on the beach running around and digging in the sand. He can’t wait for me to bring out the leash. But for some reason people seem to think that this land was made only for them. Animals have just as much right to be on a beach as we do. As long as they are on a leash it shouldn’t matter what time of year it is.
WHAT? Let me get this straight – my well-behaved dogs that I clean up after are not allowed on any beaches but horses (who make a MUCH larger mess and it never gets cleaned up) are allowed on some beaches? Am I reading this incorrectly? All dog owners that I know ALWAYS clean up after their dog – I cannot say that about a single horse owner. I have seen horse piles not only on the beaches but also on our public streets – even in town. Can someone please help to clarify this for me??
To answer your Question………Horses are not allowed either……and atleast now we know what our beloved Government of Bermuda, under the fine leadership of the Hon. Premier, has been worring about………people enjoying the great outdoors with their loved ones, whether they are Human or just like the BDA/UBP!
Yah!!!!! Yah all full of shit and thinking of yourselves. The place is gone to hell….look what you write………..
SPCA calls for 40 extra Officers to keep eye on shit…………………….Hellllllooo.
Not really sure why dogs are not allowed on beaches in the summer. could have restricted hours, before 9am and after 7pm when they are mostly empty
Or designate one of the hundreds of beaches in Bermuda as a pet friendly beach. Why cant 1 beach be for the dogs and their owners?
I agree! i have 2 well behaved dogs and travel worldwide with them! This is going to be a problem….especially for tourist that love their dogs like me! They are like my kids and this law is not “humanity” friendly…
I don’t understand the surprise in these comments! This law has been in place for years now!
That being said I think it’s cruel to keep dogs off the beach especially in the summer when it is so hot and they might want to go for a swim to cool off like their human counterparts!
The problem isn’t the dog, it’s the dogs owner.
There should be some beaches which allow dogs and some which don’t. When at the beach the dog should be kept on a lead and the owner has to clean up after it.
Well, some of you dog owners do flaunt the laws. I know because I use the beaches(South Shore ones) on a daiily basis all year round, to get in a little exercise. I have come into contact with irresponsible dog owners that would stop and read the signs posted @ most parks and beaches, but still allow their dog(s) to run free. When they see some one walking or running and try and call their pet, the animal sometimes doesn’t respond to ‘HERE LASSIE’. Last time I checked it was an offence to allow your dog to be off its’ property unless it is on a leash. Having said that, yes its unfortunate, due to some owners wanting to get their dogs some decent run space.But the weather is getting warmer, we’re approaching summer and beach goers don’t want to lay out their beach gear with a pile of dog “pooh” near or under them. I can even go as far to say while running, I actually had to stop a little territory issue about to happen between two dogs(litte n big). Of course the little dog(being walk by a young girl), wanted to challenge the big dog(off it’s leash and the owner shouting to it to stop). So yes, take your dogs to the back trails like the horses have too. And yes , I have owned both types of animals(horse and dog) and always respected the beach rules.
To confused, that ‘diaper’ rule applys to horse and carriage in the city limits. I stand to be corrected, but that is where you would see the ‘dropping bag’ attached. Also, if you read carefully, its states the times that a horse can be on the beaches designated and no other times after that.
I agree. Lot’s of dog-owners day “my dog won’t bother you, he just wants to play” Yeah right. Newsflash, most dogs don’t like strangers, “playing” is the last thing on their minds when they see you. Most of you have them to protect you, from strangers,,,hello. Some dog-owners treat their animals better than they do humans. If your dog passes away, you will get another. If a person passes away, they cannot be replaced. Keep them on a leash in public, walk them through the trails, and obey the laws of the land.
You clearly have never owned and loved a dog as a real family member if you think this way.
I have owned a dog, when I was a young child. I do not wish to own one now that I’m older. The pleasure I had of “giving birth”, far exceeds the pleasure of buying an animal.
All it took was for a few people to not clean up after their dogs and have people complain. I hate to see a dog tail up and cheeks spread dropping a log on the beach only to then have the owner push sand over it as though no one will step there.
Walk your dogs elsewhere. Dog owners have no one to blame but themselves or other dog owners.
I understand that dogs can be a pain on the beach but to ban them entirely for half the year is just plain stupid. However, it is typical of the laws this Government makes. Personally I don’t think they have a complete brain between them. They are the most pathetic bunch we’ve ever had run this country.
Why do dog owners think everybody should like their dog and put up with their bad behavior in public,
And why do they let their dos sh.. In the middle of walking paths in the parks
?????? Hello
I agree with this sentiment. No everyone likes dogs. It’s naive to think that since you leash and clean up after your dog, everyone else must be doing the same. And it’s even more naive to think that since your dog is “friendly” and you’re a dog person, other people feel the same way.
The regulations are there for health and safety reasons. Dog waste is a health hazard and unleashed dogs are a safety hazard.
If dog owners feel so serious about these regulations, petition for some dog parks or a designated dog-friendly beach. That way you can hang out with other like-minded dog owners.
As often happens in Bermuda a sledge hammer is used to drive in a pin.
There is no doubt that the few irresponsible dog owners have spoiled the joy of taking your dog to the beach or park for the many who do keep their dogs on a leash & pick up after them.
Has anyone ever been fined for letting a dog run free on a beach or failing to pick up after it? My guess is, NO. Just like has anyone ever been fined for littering?
The laws are in place. Enforce them.
I spend alot of time in US state parks & campgrounds. People with dogs are everywhere. They pick up after their dogs. They are responsible owners. Everyone gets to enjoy the parks. Dog rules are enforced.
Sorry, but not all dog pooh comes out in a nice log that can be picked up. And what about the pee?
Keep your dogs off the beaches and let them pee and pooh in the trails.
And get over yourselves.
Someones dumb idea.
I see all comments pertaining to dogs. I for one have never seen dog poo on any of the beaches I personally go to. However, I see loads of horse crap on WLB, my favorite beach and it makes me very angry! I for one am so glad they have banned horses from the beach and if they just put the bags underneath to catch the crap like every other normal country this would not have been a big deal.
how about poop and scoop fines? Government will make money off it too! win- win
however i don’t think that would apply for the horses lol..they dont make poo bags that big!
The horses have bags that go under their arses that will catch the crap, have you been to other countries?
Go to Bermuda every year – now I know why. The beaches are free from dog turds and dog pee. And they have a police force that enforces the rules of the road. Just returned from St. Martin Island in the Netherlands Antilles. Here dogs on the beaches with no leashes and their turds are everywhere plus they pee in the sand. Dog turds were even floating in the water. We will never ever go there again. We also found St. Martin the dirtiest island to which we have ever been. Rules and regulations are indicative and representative of the government and people that live there. Obviously anything goes here. People even travel down the wrong side of the street when there is traffic. These people have no interest in caring for the environment or protecting the health of humans. Dogs do NOT belong on the beaches.