We could write that there were at least two hundred dogs at Good Harbor Beach today, but only those of us who were there for any length of time would believe it. There was a constant steady stream, from sunrise, to when I last checked at 4:00pm. For the most part, the folks that we spoke with were without a clue that the rules have changed. Suffice it to say, we need to do a better job getting the word.
For readers who may have missed the information. The new ordinance prohibits dogs at Good Harbor Beach at any time of the day or night from April 1st to October 1st.
There are people who are not getting the information–they don’t read local blogs, local papers, or are not on Facebook. There has to be a more effective way to let folks know. If you are reading this post, please share it with your friends and please let them know of the ordinance change. And if you have a suggestion, or experience on how to get information of this nature across, we would be so appreciative if you would share. Thank you!
Just saying, if 200 tickets had been issued x $300.00, that would equal $60,000.00, which is more than enough money to pay people to stand at all three entrances to the beach and let folks know about the rule change; one person at the footbridge, one at the parking lot entrance, and one person at the Whitham Street entrance. This would be a very effective way to get the word out, and may only be necessary in the early days of the rule change. It’s not fair to expect the monitors to shoulder this responsibility as people can behave in an extraordinarily entitled manner and are often aggressive and hostile in their response when told of the ordinance change.
The following photos are just several of dozens taken today. The owner appeared to have five dogs with her. While she was whipping the ball with several of her dogs at the low tide line, these two tore away and ran repeatedly through the nesting area.
No Dogs at Good Harbor Beach from April 1st to October 1st.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Thank you for this post, Kim. The city, or we? need to make HUGE signs saying NO DOGS ALLOWED for all the entrances. Can we volunteer in shifts to guard the entrances on the weekends, inform people of the new law as they come in, and call 911 if we are ignored?
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Clear,improved signage will hopefully be coming soon Pat. We monitors were taken off guard yesterday. This past week there have been fewer dogs on the beach and we assumed it was because folks understood the ordinance change. But it was very cold and windy and I think now that is why there were fewer dogs. Yesterday was warmand sunny and that brought out locals as well as out of towners with their dogs. Next weekend we will be more prepared, but we need help with additional enforcement. We monitors do not have any authority and there is only one dog officer on duty on weekend days, and they have to respond to emergency calls.
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On Friday I walked Good Harbor. I saw 2 Plovers going from the water back to nesting area. Thanks also saw several dogs. I informed each dog owner about the change of dates. All but one thanked me and left. One ignored me and let their dog run. I lost track of the Plovers. I assume they took refuge in the dunes.
There needs to be much better and bigger signs at each entrance. Animal Control needs to make several sweeps and issue tickets .
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Animal Control was there, but for example when I was there at the 10:30 to 12:30 time, ACO Jamie had just left to help a family with an older lost dog, and because a fox had been hit by a car. He couldn’t get back to the beach until 12:30. During that time, there were approximately 35 dogs on the beach. I returned several times throughout the day and again at 4:00. The dog officers are off duty after 4:00 and there were at least fifteen dogs off leash by the footbridge, another dozen further down the shoreline, and I couldn’t make out how many were down by the Whitham Street entrance.
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While I respect the post, Um, that’s three pictures of the same two dogs.
If you claim yourself to be a photographer, use your craft more convincingly. Just sayin’
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I was trying to show how the dogs were frolicking in the nesting area, but you are correct, I could show additional photos. I photoshop out the people’s faces and that takes more time than I had last night.
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I LIVE IN N.H., AM 87 YEARS OLD AND I KNOW THE DOG RULES! PUT IT ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE DON’T CARE – I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THEY DON’T KNOW! THIS IS DISGUSTING.
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Thank you Liz–I’m glad you got the 411! We’ll just keep trying 🙂
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It doesn’t take rocket science to ask, “Where the heck was the dog officer??” He/She seems to always be driving around in the van these days, did they have this day off? and , “Why the heck didn’t the usual suspects with cell phones send pics to the dog officer?”
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We called the dog officers and police officers many, many time throughout the day however, there is only one dog officer on weekend days and they have to respond to other calls, besides Good harbor Beach. See above comment.
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And, why didn’t the photographer of these off leash dogs send their pics along with their comments to the dog officer???
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We take many photos and they are shared with enforcement unfortunately when requested however, if you are at the beach monitoring the PiPls, you can’t also be running into the parking lot to take photos of people’s license plates.
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it is critical to note here that at least two signs at the foot bridge still read May 1st as does the official town website. Until policy changes are actually posted somewhere I’d say dog owners are well within reason to think walking is still allowed.
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The City has a list of all dog owners that culled from the census forms that go out and the dog licenses issued. Can’t an email or a city-wide call go out to these people? Also, can’t a city-wide call go out to those people who are on the all-call for winter storms and any other call that the mayor makes during the year? Just suggestions. Keep up the good work!!!
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LARGE official signs need to be placed at the footbridge, & ANY other entrance. The signs need to include, in bold the fine for bringing dogs onto the beach when it is restricted. Yes, of course, some people will still ignore signs. Irregardless, they need to be posted NOW — & enforced.
Is Good Harbor the ONLY beach for these people to take their dogs?!!!!! No, it isn’t.
This problem gets worse each year. Until fines are enforced, & the word gets out, it will only continue on as it has to date. Unfortunately many people just do not care.
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How about getting City Hall to fire up the electronic sign at the rotary with NO DOGS ON GHB, $300 FINE.
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EXACTLY, start fining them and it will stop. About time something is done even if only for one month you can have a police officer down there or at least driving by every hour, come on. For the amount of money the beach could make in fines and because some people just think they can do whatever they want.
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Maybe we can find or take the plovers somewhere else and let the dogs play on the beach again
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Hopefully the plovers will find their way to the sanctuary up the coast where they can breed without human interference.
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