Three seals have been found with injuries relating to dog or fox bites on the Belgian coast this year, according to Delphine Dobbels, marketing manager of Sealife. Dog owners are asked to exercise caution while taking their dogs for walks on the beach, reports La Capitale.
It is currently the baby seal season, where seals are more tired and less well-fed and choose more often to rest on beaches, explained Dobbels, calling this a "critical period for seals".
"Last week a seal died after a dog attacked it on the beach. So I appeal to your common sense: keep your dog on a leash until the end of the seal pup season, until the end of February," said North Sea Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne who, along with his two daughters, visited Sealife in Blankenberge – A centre that rescues, collects and cares for sick or injured seals found on the Belgian coast.
Related News
While the minister calls for people to put their dogs on a leash, Dobbels feels hesitant to do the same.
"Dogs are animals and we like them too. It is normal that in winter they are allowed to run on the beach," she said. "Instead, our message is that if you see a seal, reattach your dog. Either you spot the seal yourself, or you see a crowd on the beach, which can often mean that there is a seal."
