Not ever having lived on the coast in South Africa, I don't have much experience of taking dogs to beaches. Here, if you want to bring pooch along, you have to go to one of the dog-friendly beaches, like the Spit.
Getting there turns out to be quite an ordeal in itself: it's a public holiday! Every car-owning person wants to go to Seaworld. And every dog-owning person wants to go to the Spit. And the two are next to each other... It was Joburg traffic at its worst.
Finally there, we find a designated parking area for 'dog-walkers'. Nice. Organised. Signs showing clearly: Dog on leash. Or: No dogs beyond this point. Contrary to popular belief, dogs can't read, however. And humans tend to take some rules with a pinch of salt. Surely they don't really mean ALL dogs on leashes, ALL the time. Angry dogs definitely, and maybe old ones.
Fortunately we are in a first-world country. And not any country, it's Australia. Here, there are friendly people dressed in khaki, driving up and down the beach to remind people and dogs to stay connected with a leash, and not to go over the imaginary line in the sand to the other side - the side where dogs are not allowed. And if you are one of the people with dog but no leash, you promptly get issued with a leash. Plus a doggie-bag for the other end. (I couldn't help to wonder: if you arrive with a leash but no dog, will you get issued with a dog??)
I can only muse at this strange, friendly efficiency.
It is somewhat of a new concept for someone from Africa...
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| Near the Spit - the dog-walker's beach |
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