TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Dogs on Orient

Had heard rumours that dogs were being banned from all beaches on the French side. After talking to a dog owner who lives on the island it is true. 50 euro fine for walking your dog on the beach. Club O are being particularly strict about the law and will call the police if you are walking your dog even if it is on a leash. This particular lovely dog owner gets around it by carrying her dog like a baby in a sling while on the Club O beach and then uses a leash on the north Orient.!! Very clever of her!

I am a dog lover but 2 weeks ago a lady with a little terrier dog not on a leash walking the beach ( a regular) I witnessed her dog doing his business at the edge of the water at Club O. Yuck!

Why is she not being fined for walking her dog on a leash at the other end of Orient? There is no sense making laws if they are not being enforced!

I have been informed by soualigacapt that this is an old law that has not been enforced in the past.

http://www.stmartinisland.org/st-martin-st-maarten-travel-information/useful-information.html On this website it does say that dogs are banned from beaches in St. Martin.Donna also said recently that she was stopped by the gendarmes on the beach with her dog last week and was reminded of this rule and that she would be fined if she did this again. It seems that they are going to enforce the rule now. She didn't say which section of the beach she was stopped on.

I saw reference made to it during the newspaper articles, etc., regarding the banning of umbrellas on the beach in Grand Case, that they were going to start enforcing that. ...of course, we see what has happened with the umbrella situation..

.......and the beat goes on! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

........with all the crime reported on the island....one would think that the gendarmes should be concentrated more on the gangs, the robbers etc....but instead they are focusing on umbrellas on Grand Case, and people walking their dogs on a beach. I just don't get it.

Doesn't appear like they are focusing on the umbrellas or the dog situation very much either.

we were told a stray dog had recently attacked and killed a very large and old (like 25 year old) iguana on/near Club O and killed it....so I know folks who love the iguanas were asking for the dogs to be dealt with.............that's different than the pets and their business of course.

I personally have seen mostly well behaved and picked up after pets.........including one pup that wears sunglasses

Who, me?! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Oh, what a cutie!!

Yes Eliabeth, Donna was where I got my information from today.

Do people care so little for their fellow vacationers that they see no problem with dogs crapping on the beaches? I have never seen one person pick up after their animals.Wish no one could have dogs on beaches anywhere!

While I agree, people SHOULD pick up after their dogs I also think tourists should pick up cans, bottles and cigarette butts of their own.

Between the dogs crapping on the beaches and the noise and re-opening at LaBamba, you seem to be having a rough time of it. Ever thought of vacationing elsewhere?

Oooh, food fight.

Sorry, can't resist.

I had that same thought...... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I think he has a valid gripe and to insinuate he should vacation elsewhere is insulting and uncalled for. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

We're all entitled to our own opinions.

Quite truthfully, I am tired of visitors complaining constantly. A first-timer has every right to be surprised and perhaps even annoyed at how island things are done but those who return over and over again know what to expect. Or at least they should......

And I'm not saying things are always as we would like them to be, but we are visitors, people. And if we can't accept the island as it is, better to find something more to our liking than to keep carping about things we can't change.

Timeshare owners, vactioners, tourists and cruise ship visitors do not get to call the shots. We are choosing to visit the island and sometimes have to deal with things unlike at home.

I agreed that people should pick up after their dogs. I pick up after mine and many other people's dogs also. The poster indeed may have a valid concern but the approach and attitude is way out of line when you are a GUEST on the island!

Come on folks, lets ease up a little bit here.

Are we visitors to the island? Sure. We also account for 90% of the income.

So we are a balance between visitor and customer. No black and white here, just grey.

Also easy with the generalization to every tourist and every dog and every beach. We are talking about Cleo and Donna here. If you don't know who they are, you might want to figure that out.

Just my humble opinion.

I love dogs and I love seeing them on the beach. I'm taking my own dog, Charlie the Tawny Terror to the beach (it's open to dogs in the winter here) in a few minutes.



Not picking up after your dog is simply unconscionable. Though I feel the same way about empty bottles and cans and food wrappers and cigarette butts. Littering is uncool anywhere.

I totally agree about picking up after your pet--or litter of any nature! Cute pup!

Carol - I finally figured out picture posting!

Good deal! Just in time to do a trip report upon your return!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Agreed. Is your dog a cocker spaniel?

Charlie is a Cocker, yes. My brother says that based on the pic above, he is in fact a Disney Spaniel.

Carol, If time allows I'll post a few trip reports again this year. I really had fun writing them last year. I have a new character in the story this year, he should be funny.

Again I have taken the thread on a tangent. Apologies to the Original Poster.

Ah, we're still talking about dogs. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" /> Yes, I remember your trip reports last year, very fun! ...and will be even more entertaining with pictures of dogs on the beach! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />