24/08/2026
In terms of off-leash dogs on beaches during the H5N1 outbreak, experts and authorities advise, to leash dogs on beaches. Let's hope people do the right thing. Sick and dying birds are extremely vulnerable to dog attack and associated stress.
"IT’S OFFICIAL. Authorities have no issue with dog owners walking their pooches on the beach following the arrival in Victoria of H5N1 bird flu.
But keep them on a leash and definitely don’t let them roll in anything nasty.
Speaking at a well-attended information session at Berninneit in Cowes last Friday night, August 21, Dr Julie Simons, Agriculture Victoria’s Director Biosecurity Strategy, Preparedness and Coordination, said bird flu was with us now and we had to learn to live with it.
“Yes, dogs can be on the beach but if they’re anything like my dogs, they’d love to search out a dead bird and roll in it so keep your dog on a lead,” said Dr Simons.
“Dogs can be at risk and you don’t want your dog coming home with a dead bird in its mouth,” she said.
The virus is established in our coastal lands and also in areas that we can’t see.
“It is with us now and we are in a space where we are finding out how to live with it.”
https://www.sgst.com.au/no-dogs-on-beaches-ban-for-bird-flu-says-agriculture-vic/
Dog advocates at the RSPCA and Lort Smith Animal Hospital, as well as Birdlife Australia, Biodiversity Council Australia and Agricultural Victoria all advise dogs should be leashed on beaches.
Lets hope the Phillips Island and Bass Coast Dog Owners Association (PIBCDOA) soon gives their members the same simple and clear message. Because while the PIBCDOA shares good advice to 'Avoid, Record, Report', they stop short at advising dogs to be leashed on beaches.
The PIBCDOA's, 'Bird Flu 'Code of Conduct': Protecting our beaches, our birdlife and our right to walk off-leash', indicates the group is still happy for dogs to run off-leash on designated off-leash beaches, which is disappointing under the circumstances.
The group's infographic is also a bit confusing, because Foots Beach, managed by Parks Victoria, is a leash-only beach, and always will be (see pics). The off-leash beach, is called the 'San Remo Back Beach,' and is accessed via Davis Point Road - it's not Foot's Beach.
All beaches represent potential bird roosting areas.
On the San Remo Back Beach off-leash dogs are continuing to stray into the dunes and vegetation and visiting and entering wombat burrows - most out of sight of their owners and/or not under sufficient voice control. We recorded another dog at a burrow this week (Aug 15, 2026).
Over 20 months, our wombat group has recorded 102 dogs, at or inside wombat burrows hidden in vegetation, which represents objective proof that far too many dog walkers don't have sufficient focus or control of their dogs in wildlife areas. Therefore it's important that dogs be leashed at this worrying time.
At a recent DEECA online info session, authorities advised that everyone needs to decrease stressors on wildlife during this outbreak. And preventing dogs approaching sick birds is certainly an easy way to do this, and a good way to minimise wildlife welfare concerns.
It's official. Authorities have no issue with dog owners walking their pooches on the beach following the arrival in Victoria of H5N1 bird flu. But keep them on a leash and definitely don’t let them roll in anything nasty.
