No Dogs on Lambert's Cove Beach in Summer

Last night’s special Town Meeting in West Tisbury had 10 articles on the warrant. However, only Article 2 to amend the Seth's Pond Bylaw to read "Uncle Seth's Pond and Lambert's Cove Beach" was the subject of extensive debate. Up for debate was whether or not dogs should be allowed on the town’s public beaches.

Dog owners against the article spoke of the pleasure of bringing their dogs to the beach. All claimed to be good citizens, who declared that they cleaned up after their dogs. However, those for the article emphasized the health aspect, particularly for children. The also cited the smell of urine and feces, the plastic bags filled with feces dumped randomly including bags hanging of bushes and trees, the overflowing containers for the bags and the lack of adequate policing as reasons for their support. Some said that they no longer came to the beach because of the smell and health hazard

Several amendments to the article were offered, but all were defeated. Some suggestions were to increase the fee for the use of the beach; another was to impose a fee to bring a dog to the beach.

In the end, West Tisbury town voters voted to keep dogs off Lambert’s Cove Beach and Uncle Seth’s Pond between June 15 and Sept. 15 and violators will be subject to a $50 fine.

A total of 141 voters attended the meeting and the final vote for the article was 64 for and 61 against.