Editor:

 The South Portland Dog Owners Group welcomes the formation of a task force to examine recent complaints from a handful of residents regarding dogs on Willard Beach and to examine off-leash access throughout the entire city. Since these complaints first became public, we have asked only for a fair and honest assessment of the claims being made by those who seek changes in the current ordinances. We are confident that the task force will seek the truth, give an honest assessment of the success of those ordinances, and finally put this issue to rest.

 We are troubled that some have tried to characterize dog owners in an unflattering light. The reality is that we are your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and taxpayers – good people just like you, who want to enjoy our public spaces. In fact, to us this Willard Beach debate is about much more than dogs; it is about equal access for all South Portlanders. 

 Because we value the privilege of using our parks and beaches, dog owners often clean up not only after dogs, but after humans as well. We also help keep South Portland’s open spaces safe as our regular visits deter inappropriate activities. By watching out for each other and our pets, we create a stronger community as we meet other South Portlanders in our walks on the beach and in the parks. 

 We encourage those interested in more information about our group to visit www.sopodog.com. Again, we look forward to the work of the task force, and feel certain that a fair, diligent, and democratic process will result in a consensus that allows us and our dogs to continue to enjoy the open spaces of South Portland as we do now.

 Crystal Goodrich, president

South Portland Dog Owners Group