Monday 01 June 2015
The Environment Department is warning dog owners to keep pets away from any white substance they may find on local beaches.
Small lumps of a white waxy substance have been found today at Vazon Bay by the States Works beach cleaning team. Lumps of a similar substance found in south Devon and Cornwall in December 2014 were identified as degraded edible oil or fat. If the substance is degraded oil, whilst not harmful to human health, it could pose a danger to dogs if it has gone rancid.
The Department would urge dog owners to keep their pets away from any waxy substances washed up on beaches. The Department would also like to remind dog owners of the risk of allowing their pets to eat seaweed, which has the potential to cause intestinal obstruction.
The Department has instructed States Works to remove any substance of this description which may be found on beaches. The public are advised not to touch the white waxy substance.
The Department and States Works will monitor beaches but anyone finding white deposits is asked to report it to the Environmental Services Unit, Tel: 717 200 during office hours or env@gov.gg.
-ENDS-
Contact Information
Environmental Services Unit
Environment Department
Tel: 717200
E-mail: env@gov.gg