Two dogs killed a deer in Sint-Martens-Latem last week. The stray dogs surprised their owners by suddenly running after the deer, reports the Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB), which is once again calling on all dog owners to keep their pets on a leash at all times while walking. “Dogs belong on a leash.”
The Agency for Nature and Forests fears that such incidents as in Sint-Martens-Latem will increase in the coming weeks and calls for “more responsibility” among some owners before the start of the Easter holidays. “Dogs belong on a leash in forests and nature reserves, running loose is only possible in the provided dog off-leash zones,” it reads in a press release.
“With the beautiful spring weather, many visitors are going back into nature,” the press release reads. “Cyclists, horse riders, children playing and also a lot of walkers, whether or not accompanied by their four-legged friend. It is very important that dogs, no matter how big or small they are, remain on a leash. This for nature, for other visitors and for themselves.”
“Protect nature”
Especially in spring, nature is very vulnerable. “It will then be one big maternity hospital,” says the ANB. “A large part of life in nature takes place low to the ground. There you will find nesting birds, small mammals… and fawns too. Sniffing dogs that go off the path can startle the animals in their peace. Some animals literally run themselves to pieces out of fear, get hurt or even killed. Moreover, several animals die every year because they are bitten to death by a stray dog. Sometimes the damage caused by a stray dog is not visible. The scent trail that a dog leaves behind makes animals that come into contact with it anxious. As a result, a parent animal sometimes does not return to the young (in time), causing it to starve and die.”
“Protect other visitors”
“Everyone wants to enjoy nature, with or without a dog. Dog owners often assume that their dog is sweet and loyal and does not pose a danger or threat. Perhaps that is true in many cases, but an animal is never 100 percent predictable. A dog can be startled and react unexpectedly. Other visitors usually don’t appreciate it when they are jumped, touched or chased by a dog.”
“Protect your dog”
“Did you know that a stray dog itself is in danger? It can be attacked by a wild boar or infected with parasites that hide in the bushes. Just think of ticks. Or running into the street with all the consequences that entails. Therefore, also here, in the interest of your dog’s safety.”
More than 500 infringements per year
In the past two years, the agency’s nature inspectors and forest rangers have found significantly more violations with regard to stray dogs. In 2021 and 2020, they recorded 573 and 622 violations respectively, in 2019 there were only 235. “Perhaps the increasing number of visitors to our nature reserves during the corona crisis play a role, as well as the increased attention of the enforcement services to the problem. Important: those who do not keep their dog on a leash risk a fine of 80 euros. An amount that can increase further in the event of recidivism.”
