Beach ruling leaves Estepona dogs down in the dumps

ESTEPONA pet owners have been disappointed as, following months of preparations, the town has been denied a dog beach.
The Junta de Andalucia regional government’s environmental department has turned down the council’s application to allow dogs this summer on La Morocha beach, between El Padron and El Castor, stating that it had not been authorised on the Seasonal Exploitation Plan for public beaches.
Acting Beaches councillor Susana Aragon explained that in November a 10,000-square-metre area of the beach had been suggested to the Junta for use by dogs and their owners and local bylaws modified to allow this use.
Aragon said the rejection was a great disappointment as hundreds of local pet owners had asked for a beach their dogs could use all year round and it could also have attracted more tourists as many visitors like to travel with their pets.