Recently my wife and I purchased a home in the Willard Beach area of South Portland.  Pretty quickly, we noticed the beach is a draw for summer morning exercising of dogs and their owners.  Although we did not yet own a dog, we met a large friendly group of people and their dogs and felt a nice sense of community.  We observed owners picking up after their pets and noted they were all off the beach at 9 a.m. as required.

We then learned of a longstanding controversy regarding dogs on the beach and were told the major concerns were regarding public health risks.

As a practicing gastroenterologist here in Portland for 30 years, I took an interest in further studying this possible risk as I have never diagnosed or encountered a case of dog-to-human illness.  My background includes a degree in pre-veterinary medicine and I regularly see unusual gastrointestinal infections.

Failing to find any evidence of significant health risk, I sent a letter so stating to the city council of South Portland and was subsequently asked to join the newly formed taskforce charged with studying this issue.

After an exhaustive survey including review of the medical literature, discussions with other generalists and specialists here in Maine, and comment from the Maine State CDC, all pertinent information was studied by the taskforce and submitted in the final report.  To be clear, there is no significant health risk to the public from dog use on Willard Beach as is currently permitted and practiced.

On Jan. 14 of this year, I attended the Maine State Veterinary Association’s annual meeting which focused on zoonoses (diseases communicable from animals to humans).  Two nationally recognized veterinarian experts in this field detailed the minimal overall risk of dog-related communicable illness to humans and specifically addressed the lack of risk in the New England beach environment.

Despite these well-documented and well-researched facts, South Portland voters may be asked to sign a petition to place the question of banning dogs from Willard Beach into a voter referendum. 

Be aware that the health fears expressed by those motivated in this movement are not scientifically-based.  Unscientific, unverified, unreasonable fears must not be used as a reason to restrict an important and longstanding freedom.  If we approve this petition, we must ask what other freedom may be assaulted next.

Douglas A. Howell, MD

South Portland