Dog killed by another dog at Praia do Matadouro, renewing calls to enforce Ericeira's leash rules

A dog died this week after reportedly being attacked by another dog at Praia do Matadouro, according to an account shared locally. Witnesses say it is not the first aggressive incident involving the same dog, and that its owner has so far refused to keep it on a leash or fit it with a muzzle. The Ericeira Times has not independently verified the account and is not naming anyone involved; anyone with direct knowledge of the incident is encouraged to report it to the GNR.

Praia do Matadouro has no lifeguard post and is shielded from any road, which locally has earned it a reputation as an informal "dog beach", a spot where owners often let dogs run free. That reputation isn't official, though: a sign at the beach entrance states dogs are prohibited.

The case has reignited a wider complaint in Ericeira: dogs walked off-lead in public streets, squares and beaches, some of them aggressive toward people or other animals, with owners facing little to no visible enforcement. Last month, The Ericeira Times reported on a dog kept unleashed on Rua Luís de Camões 13 that neighbours say has chased and attacked people for roughly two years; repeated complaints to the GNR's local post, to the Mafra detachment and to SEPNA, the GNR's nature and animal protection service, produced no visible response.

Portuguese law requires dogs to be leashed in public streets and spaces, with muzzles additionally required for breeds classified as potentially dangerous. Beaches with lifeguard cover and facilities, the "concessioned" beaches that make up most of Ericeira's main swimming spots, ban dogs outright during the official bathing season, which typically runs from 1 June to 30 September.

Dog mess left on pavements and beaches is another frequent complaint, with many owners not picking up after their pets and, again, no visible enforcement.

The problem is not unique to Ericeira. Across the municipality of Mafra, and in Portugal more broadly, the rules on dogs exist on paper but are almost never enforced: leash laws, muzzle requirements, beach bans and clean-up rules go unpoliced. Residents say neither the GNR nor Mafra Town Council ever does anything about it.

Two other problems come up again and again. One is animal abuse and neglect: dogs kept permanently chained, shut on balconies or in small yards, or left without proper shade, water and care. The other is noise pollution from dogs left outside barking for hours, often all night, keeping whole streets awake. Portugal's noise regulations (Regulamento Geral do Ruído) protect the night-time rest period from 11pm to 7am, but complaints about constantly barking dogs, like complaints about abuse, rarely lead to anything.

Residents say the gap is enforcement, not the rules themselves: calls to the GNR reporting loose or aggressive dogs, they say, routinely go unanswered. Anyone attacked or threatened by a loose dog, or whose own pet is attacked, can call the GNR Posto Territorial da Ericeira on 261 860 710 (Rua Alto da Camacha, nº4), file a complaint online through GNR's electronic complaints portal, or report it to SEPNA, ideally with photo or video evidence and the date, time and location noted. In an emergency, call 112. Residents pushing for stronger enforcement can also raise it directly with Mafra Town Council, which sets local animal-control policy.

Update, 25 September: residents have called a "Justice for Benfica" protest for Saturday 26 September at 4pm in front of the Capela de São Sebastião.

Update: the owner responds

The owner of the dog involved in the attack has responded in a written message, saying she is cooperating with the police and authorities and has taken responsibility for what happened. The Ericeira Times is continuing not to name her, or the owner of the dog that was killed. Her message in full:

"I am deeply sorry about what happened and everything surrounding this situation. Today I attended the mandatory control at the municipal kennel in Mafra, and I am following the steps required by the police and authorities, starting with the dog's quarantine. From the beginning, I've cooperated fully and taken responsibility for what happened."

"Until now I have stayed away from social media, also following police advice. I care deeply about what happened. My dog fatally attacked another dog although they had never fought before. I respect all the emotions around, while at the same time I am also dealing with serious threats and aggressive messages."

"I'm not trying to escape responsibility. I simply need some time to manage an extremely painful situation, especially knowing what [the other dog's owner] and his family have gone through. I have always respected him and I feel very sorry and guilty for what happened."