West Tisbury Goes Back to the Dogs

Back in November, frustrated West Tisbury beach goers went up against their dog-owning neighbors in a special town meeting to discuss . The result of that meeting was a 64 to 61 vote in favor of banning the dogs from the beach.

As a result, a group of dog-loving citizens got together a group that called themselves “Friends of Lamberts Cove Beach.” This group has worked hard to come up with a solution so that they can bring their beloved animals to the beach and not offend their neighbors. In addition to for further discussion, the group got the issue on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting last month.

At that time West Tisbury voters decided to give four-legged residents and their owners one last chance and agreed to allow dogs on Lambert’s Cove Beach from 7 am to 10 am from June 15^th  - Sept. 15^th (there is no time restrictions on dogs during the rest of the year).

However, West Tisbury voters are being asked to vote on the issue for a third time on June 5^th. This time to decide whether or not the town wants pay to enforce the dog’s (and their owners) good behavior.

According to the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette, the decision to call the special town meeting was the result of a discussion at this week’s West Tisbury selectmen’s meeting.

“Discussion ranged from cleanliness, monitoring, enforcement, control and bad dog owners,” reported the Gazette.

While members of Friends of Lambert’s Cove made their case again to take responsibility for both their dogs and the dogs of other owners, selectmen Cynthia Mitchell said she felt the town should decide how to handle the enforcement issue.

After much discussion as to whether or not the enforcement should come from volunteers, a paid position, a change in the bylaws or a combination in all three, selectmen unanimously voted to call a special town meeting. The town will be asked whether or not they want to allocate funds to create a new assistant animal control officer position whose responsibility will be primarily to monitor the beach, enforce the new dog policy and make sure owners pick up after their pets. The vote will also ask the town to consider bylaw changes addressing leashes and litter.