The period when it is allowed to be with dogs on the beach in Jūrmala ended on March 31. From April 1 to October 31, it is prohibited to be on the beach with pets, walk them, and swim with them, reports the Jūrmala City Council.
The ban on being with dogs on the beach is in effect from April to the end of October, when the beach is visited by a large number of vacationers. This is necessary to ensure sanitary cleanliness, compliance with hygiene requirements, and water quality in bathing areas, as well as to ensure the safety of people. The supervision and control over compliance with mandatory regulations is carried out by the municipal police of Jūrmala.
From November 1 to March 31, it is allowed to be on the beach of the Gulf of Riga in Jūrmala with dogs, provided that they are on a leash.
The decision to allow dog walking on the beach during the autumn-winter period was made in 2024, taking into account the proposals of residents and public opinion gathered during public consultations. As a result, amendments were made to the mandatory rules of the Jūrmala City Council to align local regulations with the practices of other European countries regarding the presence of pets in public places.
The municipality of Jūrmala urges residents to be responsible, respect the rights of other vacationers, and take care of the cleanliness of the beach year-round.
The publication has garnered a lot of negative comments from both local residents and outsiders.
While some residents support this decision, others express dissatisfaction and share their observations about how the beach looks after winter and who creates dirt in the area.
Opinions of residents and vacationers Gita Malysheva Jansone: "Why is there a ban on dogs everywhere? Why is there no ban for drunks who smell and dirty even more than dogs and disturb vacationers?"
Marta Rasa: "In Ventspils, there is a separate area by the sea specifically for walking dogs."
Eva Voitane: "In my opinion, most of the dirt is created by the vacationers themselves because responsible owners clean up after their dogs, so I don’t see anything unhygienic there."
Daigga Zake: "In Tel Aviv, the beach is open to everyone, in New York, you can even take your dog to the Central Art Museum, while Jūrmala lags behind in its views..."
Dainna Dalbinya: "This is idiocy; people create more dirt and leave feces more often than dogs — I have seen it myself."
Vineta Vanaga: "Jūrmala, you are not needed by me or my dogs."
Ilze: "Thank you for this season! We enjoyed it. At the same time, it is very sad that some owners think that the rule about dogs on a leash does not apply to them, and individual walks turn into a nightmare: strange, disobedient dogs run up to my dogs, which their owners either cannot or do not even try to call back. Next season, please increase police control, especially early in the morning or late in the evening when the beach is full of those who let their dogs run uncontrolled. This especially applies to the area from Vaivari to Jaundubulti."
Inese Ine: "A person has room to grow. Sometimes it seems that we are lost in the system and laws. An increasing challenge for humanity is to understand that nature belongs to both humans and animals. Let’s hope we can achieve this."
Kristina Dunneca: "This is correct! Otherwise, dogs would be everywhere, and their convenience is placed above human comfort, safety, and health."
Elena Prostyakova: "It would be great to leave some limited area where animals can be present in the summer. And Jūrmala City Council, please, why can’t there be trash bins at least at the beach exit in winter?"
Janis Baltyancs: "Bravo. At least one reasonable decision. Such rules should be implemented on all beaches where many vacationers gather."
Maris Silinsh: "Oh, my gods, what sterile commentators have gathered; I’ve never heard that we need to clean up sand soaked with dog urine. But the fact that a pipe several kilometers from the shore discharges sewage and waste into the sea — that doesn’t concern anyone... especially the gifted breed — the residents of Jūrmala."
Krista Zarina: "Let’s prefer more dog-friendly beaches in Latvia! All the best, Jūrmala."
Martins Balodis: "Such a stupid law. The dog is not to blame, but the owner who does not clean up after it.
