Barcelona

Given the results and warm reception of the two pilot tests carried out during the summers of 2016 and 2017, this Decree provides final approval for permanently establishing this access space for citizens with dogs at Llevant beach, and allows it to be set up every year during the high bathing season. Barcelona is always committed to positive coexistence between people and pets, out of respect for animal rights.

Services

The access space for citizens with dogs offers the following services:

The dog beach is a space physically separated from the rest of Llevant beach, with perimeter fences reaching the shore and breakwater areas, to prevent dogs from getting out. The beach opens from 10.30 am to 7.30 pm.

A Monday-to-Sunday information service, with two environmental information officers, who will be carrying out access-control work, given that only dogs with identification microchips can access the area, performing monitoring work, distributing waste-collection bags and information to users, both at the information point and the beach's access points, so that users with dogs can follow the established route to the area's entrance, to ensure the area is smoothly run.

Manual cleaning service for both the space and its access points, which includes the emptying out of bins and machine cleaning by sifting sand at night with a tractor, down to a depth of roughly 8 cm, as on the other beaches, and 30-cm-deep sand sifting, when determined by contingency criteria.

Water and sand quality-control service, which is carried out by the Public Health Agency (ASPB). Water control as established under Directive 2007/EC; on controlling the quality of water and sand, has seen the establishment of a contingency protocol with the ASPB which includes a package of sand maintenance and cleaning initiatives depending on the analytical control results.