The Shire Council has given notice of changes to Dog Exercise Areas in the Gnarabup vicinity for "a trial period" of some 4 and a half months from the 15th December this year. This action has come about after a limited consultation period with Gnarabup residents only, where its subsequent action was virtually pre - empted in its "survey". The changes will essentially prohibit all dogs from being walked on beaches, south of the small beach at the base of the carpark off Reef Drive Gnarabup. This includes the beaches at Grunters, Sewers and Gas Bay. It also indirectly includes Boodjidup, as the main entry to that beach from the Gas Bay Car Park is also proscribed. The primary reason the Shire has offered for these changes is to protect the endangered hooded plover which nest along beaches across the Naturaliste - Leeuwin Region. In singling out the very odd dog as a danger to the birds, the Shire conveniently underscores the more likely threats caused by fox and sea bird predation, seasonal weather patterns including wave and tidal action and most tellingly, human intrusion near nesting areas. The beaches affected by this prohibition have been places dog owners were able to traditionally take their pets for long walks away from major crowds. By blocking these beaches, it will mean greater pressure and an increased human and canine presence in the existing gazetted Gnarabup and Prevelly dog sites, places where the plovers have also been known to nest. Because of the large tracts of national park already prohibited to dogs, both north and south of Margaret River, there is virtually now, nowhere for dog owners to take their pets for a longer coastal walk.