Editor:
Kudos to Brian Allen for taking an aggressive stand on the dog issue that is finally being handled in South Portland.
As a mother of three small children and a lifetime user of Willard Beach, I too am shocked at the overuse of South Portland’s prime parks and beach areas by dogs and their often unreasonable and uncaring owners. I too have had many unpleasant altercations at Willard Beach and our town parks – some involving police officer intervention.
It is obvious that change is in order. Clearly, dogs should not be allowed on Willard Beach at any time of day or year, not only for safety reasons, but also for environmental and aesthetic reasons. The privilege has now been so abused that Willard Beach is commonly referred to be a “dog beach.” I was recently told by a dog owner that I was a negligent parent for bringing my children to “The Dog Beach” (Willard Beach).
Equally abused and inappropriately mislabeled as dog parks Hinckley Park and Bug Light Park have become off limits to people due to fear of off leash dogs. Additionally, I have had scary situations involving dogs at Mill Creek Park and at local playgrounds.
If the dog owners wish to run their dogs off leash it should be at a dog park. Portland has one. Voice control is unenforceable and dangerous to our most vulnerable citizens: the children and the elderly.
Please enforce and strengthen the leash laws South Portland, and give the people back the freedom to use South Portland’s scenic spaces without fear. Ban dogs from Willard Beach and all city parks period.
Roxanna Kennedy
South Portland