Dear Editor,
For the SPEA vigilant at Lagoa dos Salgados, dogs are to blame for disturbing the local birdlife.
I have had several arguments with him because I used to walk my dog there and he would immediately come in my direction telling me off as dogs disturb birds.
We once had a heated discussion and the next day, while the lagoon was being drained during nesting season with the authorisation of the ARH (Algarve water authority), I took my dog for a walk and noticed the vigilant and a SEPNA officer looking at the ‘no dogs allowed off lead’ sign and then coming straight in my direction.
The vigilant made a complaint against me to the SEPNA officer for walking my dog without a lead. Very efficient with his obligations!
Yes, my dog would probably chase a hare and draining the lagoon during nesting season would probably kill dozens of eggs, but I, as the dog owner, am the one who is fined for disturbing the birds! Wonderful!
I think SPEA (bird study society) has put a lot of pressure on ARH in order to protect the area and their way of keeping the former happy is by putting up a sign warning people not to walk their dogs off the lead, as if that is the core of the problem.
Actually, I think the vigilant feels frustrated that he cannot do more for ‘his’ lagoon and takes it on the weakest link, us, dog owners.
It is clearly easier to act against us than against two Câmaras that approve megalomaniac development projects in the area and against ARH who authorises the lagoon to be drained several times during the year. But the biggest threat to the birds seems to be DOGS!
NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD
