Paws on the Beach: How Stray Dogs Can Affect Coastal Wildlife

You won’t spot a dolphin or whale at the edge of the water, but there’s still a whole world of wildlife on the sand.

• Marine turtles sneak ashore to bury their eggs under the moonlight, and here’s the amazing part: they often return to the exact same beach where they were born, year after year.
• Birds like the red-capped tern or little plover nest right on top of the sand – no trees are required!
• Crabs, lizards, and even some reptiles (like marine iguanas, found only in the Galápagos!) spend time in the swash zone – that's the part of the beach where the waves wash in and out.

These animals are often tiny but always terrific. They keep the ecosystem balanced, and the food chain flowing all the way into the ocean.

Beaches are fun for dogs too, but too many can cause problems. In some coastal areas, dogs are drawn to the shore by food scraps, fishy smells, or kind tourists. But without vet care or regular meals, they turn to digging, scavenging, and exploring – and that’s when wildlife gets caught in the middle.

Stray dogs might:

• Dig up turtle nests
• Chase crabs, birds, or hatchlings
• Leave behind poo that rain and the tide can wash straight into the sea
• Spread diseases like distemper or rabies if unvaccinated

They’re not trying to be bad. They’re just being dogs. But the ripple effects can be pretty big!

What starts on the beach doesn’t stay on the beach. Here’s how things can go wrong:

• If turtles don’t make it to the sea, jellyfish populations can bloom (and that’s bad news for swimmers and fish!)
• If birds are chased away, insects and pests can take over
• If dog waste pollutes the sea, it can create something called an “algal bloom”. This upsets the delicate ecosystems that the coral reefs and fish rely on to survive

These hungry dogs might just be looking for a snack, but the whole ocean can feel the fallout!

Luckily, WVS has boots (and paw prints) on the ground in beachy places like Goa in India and St Martin’s Island, which sits off the coast of Bangladesh. These local teams are helping by:

• Running spay and neuter days to make sure the dog population doesn’t get out of hand
• Giving vaccines to stop disease spreading
• Supporting communities to care for beach dogs and protect wildlife
• Setting up pop-up clinics right on the sand to treat and care for the animals in need

It’s all part of our mission to make sure dogs can still be dogs, without disturbing the coastal wildlife next door.

Helping the sea doesn’t always mean diving in! By being a Young Vets Club member you are already helping in a big way, ensuring that WVS can continue to send aid and vet care to places in need.

And you did all that without even getting your feet wet!

This World Oceans Day, remember: the beach is shared by paws, claws, flippers and feet. When we help one animal, we protect a whole coastline.