Thousands of people have joined calls for a change to rules banning dogs from beaches for five months of the year.
The restrictions mean dogs are not allowed on some Dorset beaches from 1 May to the 30 September.
About 6,000 people have signed a petition calling for the ban to be lifted a month earlier, from 1 September, when the peak holiday season ends.
BCP Council said the dates were part of the criteria for beaches to earn Blue Flag or Seaside Award status.
The petition, started by Dorset Dogs, which runs pet food banks in the county, says: “After the busy summer tourist season, the beaches become quiet, and there is no reason to continue banning dogs when few people are using them.
“Allowing dogs on beaches from 1 September would provide much-needed space for dog owners, who have faced increasing restrictions, especially as dog ownership has surged since 2020.”
BCP’s leisure councillor Richard Herrett said: “These restrictions only cover certain areas of our seafront and relate directly to the Blue Flag or Seaside Award status many of our beaches boast.
“The period during which the restrictions are in place is set by Keep Britain Tidy, who administer the awards.
“We are rightly proud of our Blue Flags, which recognise that we have one of the world’s outstanding coastal resorts and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.
“We know dog owners still want to enjoy walks on our beaches during these months, which is why half of our beaches remain accessible to all throughout the summer.
“But not every visitor to our seafront loves dogs.
“Having some spaces where people know they won’t have dogs near, or that they will be on leads, provides the right balance and ensures our seafront remains accessible to all.”
Keep Britain Tidy has been contacted for a comment.
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