It's forbidden to drive through a red traffic light.
Yet some people do it anyway.
And when you point it out to them, you're guaranteed an explanation.
The light wasn't really red yet.
More blood orange.
Or at least not so red that you would have had to stop.
I find myself thinking back to this discussion every summer.
Because as soon as the holiday season begins in Denmark, the amateur lawyers appear again, who know exactly why their dog can of course run freely on the beach.
Even though the law says something different.
"There's nobody here."
"He won't do anything."
"He listens to commands."
"It's only a few meters."
You know these arguments.
And every year, people try again to turn a clear law into a matter for negotiation.
But the rule is actually quite simple.
From April 1st to September 30th, dogs must be kept on a leash at Danish beaches.
Not: unless the dog is well-behaved.
Not: unless nobody's watching.
Not: unless you're on holiday.
Just a leash requirement.
Naturally, not everyone likes it.
The dog wants to go to the water.
The dog wants to play.
The dog wants to run.
And because the owner likes being on the beach, of course Woofy should have his fun there too.
Dog forests? Oh yes, those exist too.
Denmark has plenty of them.
Large fenced-in areas where dogs can run free, romp, sniff, and play.
But forests are something you know from back home.
Beach is nicer.
At least for humans.
The dog would probably be just as happy with an exciting dog forest.
But what's this really about?
Is it about ruining dog owners' holidays?
Of course not.
The leash requirement wasn't introduced to annoy dogs.
It serves to protect nature.
Especially in spring and summer, numerous bird species nest along Danish coasts.
Many of them nest directly on the ground.
A dog doesn't have to be a hunter to cause problems.
Often his mere presence is enough.
A startled adult bird leaves the nest.
Young animals panic.
Nesting sites are abandoned.
The dog just wanted to play.
Nature, unfortunately, sees it differently.
And that's why there are rules.
Incidentally, the legal situation isn't complicated at all.
In the Naturbeskyttelsesloven § 22, it states that dogs must be kept on a leash at beaches from April 1st to September 30th.
From October 1st on, dogs are allowed to run free there again, as long as they're under their owner's full control.
Incidentally, this isn't a recommendation.
This is law.
Incidentally, Germany also has numerous leash requirements, particularly during breeding and birthing seasons.
So the idea is by no means a Danish peculiarity.
The difference is perhaps only that when on holiday, people sometimes tend to interpret rules a bit more generously.
But laws don't work on the principle of:
"I think it makes sense today."
Or:
"My dog is the exception."
Because then the red traffic light would also be just a non-binding recommendation.
Or maybe just blood orange.
And that's exactly why it's better to stick to the rules.
Not because someone's constantly checking.
But because they apply to everyone.
To Danes.
To Germans.
To tourists.
And to Woofy too.
