beachgoer said yesterday.

He said careless dog owners were flouting the ban on walking dogs on beaches which came into effect on April 1.

And the caller, who wished to remain anonymous, said he feared Bermuda could lose its reputation for spotless beaches if the blight continued.

He said: "Some people let their dogs mess and they don't even pick it up.

They don't even cover it up in the sand.

"I go down to Horseshoe Bay everyday and complain about it every day to the people at the Parks Department.'' Director of Parks Candy Foggo reminded people they could be hit with a $1,000 fine and three months in prison for flouting the dog ban on all beaches which lasts until October 31.

Repeat offenders could be hit with a $2,000 fine and six months in prison.

She said: "It's difficult to police the whole Island with the staff we have -- it would be next to impossible to do.'' She said dog mess was a problem at both parks and beaches but Bermuda had yet to bring in laws banning it and she appealed for dog owners to be more responsible.

Ms Foggo said: "It's a common thing outside Bermuda that people pick up their dog mess.

"It's just a habit-breaking experience we have to go through, similar to when people had to wear crash helmets -- but that was easier to enforce.'' But she said an attempt to get dog owners to change their ways had failed.

"We had biodegradable bags at Blue Hole Hill Park for people to put the dog mess in but it wasn't well received.

"Most of the bags biodegraded in their original holders.'' ANIMALS ALS