Out-of-town dogs a concern at beach

NAHANT – Groups of dogs from out of town have been congregating on Black Rock Beach, also known as Doggie Beach, and some residents are howling in opposition.Animal Control Officer Mike Kairevich said he has been getting complaints from residents and at times there are so many canines from other communities at the beach that it does pose a problem.?Large groups of dog owners will park near the Tides and Dunkin’ Donuts then walk to the beach,” he said. “I have had complaints. Sometimes there are more than 40 dogs from out of town there all at once. There is always a potential for problems with that number of unleashed dogs down there.”Kairevich said there is a large group of dog owners from neighboring communities that arrange through social networking sites and Internet-based groups to take their dogs en mass to Doggie Beach.The beach, which is off Castle Road across from the Nahant Lifesaving Station, is one of the only beaches on the North Shore where dogs are allowed off-leash during the summer months.Kairevich was quick to add dogs belonging to town residents are generally not a problem.?The dogs belonging to town residents know each other and have been socializing together so long that there is very little conflict. But when you get 40 or 50 dogs that don’t know each other running loose in one area at the same time there are bound to be problems. We’ve had reports of dogs biting dogs down there.”Kairevich said when Town Meeting passed a bylaw allowing dogs to roam unfettered at Black Rock Beach it did not restrict the beach to dogs licensed in town so there is little he can do other than police the area.?I check and make sure dogs are licensed,” he said. “I also check to make sure their shots current but I can’t tell people from out of town they can’t take their dogs there because it is a public beach.”