Until recently I lived at Higgins Beach for nine years. During the summer I walked the beach in the morning when dogs are allowed off leash and supposedly under voice command. Most dog owners I observed would walk far ahead of their dogs, allowing them to wander wherever they pleased – on dunes, people’s lawns, plover habitats, doing their business (with no pick-up) and annoying beach walkers.

I know the leash review pertains to the plover incident, but there are other issues here. For one, I have had to rescue my three grandchildren many times from off-leash dogs running full speed toward them – not one under voice control.

If people behaved as off-leash dogs do, urinating, defecating, running all over unattended, they would be arrested and most likely banned from beaches. That dogs should be leashed at all times is an ordinance that is long overdue.

Sharman Kivatisky

Scarborough