What annoys me about threads like this is that the owners, on the whole, are agreeing that dog mess left behind is unpleasant. Many have mentioned that they are restricted as to where they can take their dogs (eg not on certain beaches during certain months), so clearly an effort is being made to ensure that people who don't want dogs around can have that dog free space. And we are all agreed that there are people who take major liberties with that - taking their dog into a dog free zone.
And yet, the response from the anti-dog sector is to shout 'ban all dogs from everywhere that I might ever want to go.' There doesn't seem to be anyone calling for some kind of enforcment of the restrictions already in place, for example. Just 'I saw this man letting his dog poo here so all dogs need to be banned from all beaches except in the middle of winter (when I am not there).'
I just find it a bit frustrating. I realise dog mess is deeply unpleasant. I also have a small child and hate having her randomly step in it. But I also have a dog who is a big part of the enjoyment that my dd, my dh and I get out of life. She comes with us to the beach because a beach day wouldn't be complete without her. I just choose beaches where I know she can go. Just as it is not fair to expect people who hate dogs to have to put with them jumping up and scaring them, neither is it fair to curtail the enjoyment that my family and I get out of a rural lifestyle (which we chose because we wanted a dog to be part of it).
FWIW I hate people who play radios to the beach at full volume, and those who use those kite things attached to wheels to speed around on the sand. They impact on my ability to enjoy a beach because I either have to listen to stuff I really don't want to when what I want is a natural sounding environment, and I have to watch my dd to ensure she isn't running in front of one. But others do enjoy these things and my rights to enjoy my day have to be balanced with theirs.
I think the best analogy is a car. Not everyone chooses to own one. There are rules and restrictions in place to protect everyone. They can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands. There are many fatal accidents and often those involved are hurt through no fault of their own. But no-one then shouts 'ban all cars' or suggests that they should be banned from all public places. We just look for more effective restrictions or enforcement, recognising that the majority are sensible.
The thing is that dog owners who are sensible start getting defensive because the idea that all dogs should be banned from public areas, or only walked on leads (which wouldn't be any sort of exercise for my dog), or muzzled (something I would be extremely unhappy at doing with mine) impinges on us massively. I accept that non-doggy people are not overjoyed to see my dog - but then she's not often walked where other people are (excepting dog owners!) because of where we live. And she's trained, she comes to heel and if I see something that I am unsure about (if someone approaches us on a bike for example, I don't know what she will do and if there's any chance of either her or the biker getting hurt because she gets excited at the new thing) then she goes on a lead. The most she does is sidle up to someone if they stick their hand out to greet her, but she's really not interested in people other than me, my dh and our dd. I've put the effort in to get a dog that is a pleasure for me to be around, and who is trustworthy, but I'm not complacent and watch her all the time.
The reality is that dogs won't be banned because there are too many people who enjoy them. We would also have to be careful about working dogs and how any restrictions applied (we can recogise a guide dog easily, but what about those who are used to detect their owner's imminent epileptic fit?). Instead of shouting 'ban' and 'don't ban' could we not have a proper conversation about it?
I have accepted that in my county, my home, there are places I cannot go if I wish to take my dog. (NB for whoever it was who came to Cornwall, there's a leaflet called 'Cornwall for dog owners' which has a big map in the middle showing which beaches you won't be able to go to, which ones are seasonal use only and which ones you can visit all year round.) So please, if you dislike dogs, can you also accept that there are places you would be better off not going to, find the alternatives, as I had to do, and if restrictions are not being observed, look for solutions to that issue instead of demanding that I am then banned from the remaining places I can go to. Because really, if current restrictions are not observed, what makes you think that increasing restrictions would be more likely to be observed?