East Hampton Village residents are fighting to keep access to the area’s beautiful beaches — for their dogs.
After 20 years of trying, a group of local activists are forcing town officials to vote on a proposal to limit the amount of time canines can roam the beaches.
The measure has dog lovers up in arms.
“The difference between here and the city is that we don’t have all these rules and regulations,” Roger Rowlett said while playing with his golden retriever Esther at Wieborg Beach yesterday.
“Once you start bringing in all these restrictions then you just become another suburb.”
The opposition is led by a male model who recently appeared on the cover of French Vogue.
East Hampton resident Matt Norklun, 57, says canines urinate, defecate, and chase around sun worshippers at exclusive destinations such as Main and Georgica beaches — as their owners do nothing.
“These aren’t locals who are taking their dogs to the beach out here,” scoffed Norklun. “These are people from the city who see a Cialis commercial with someone running down the beach with their dog and they think that’s the thing to do. It’s ridiculous.”
The East Hampton Village Board will now consider a measure before the summer crush begins.
Solutions range from an outright ban to an increase in the hours in which dogs are prohibited.
Public hearings are continuing and a vote will come before summer, officials said.
Pooches are currently allowed to roam freely during the off-season, and are only prohibited from the area’s beaches between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the summer.