Please be a responsible dog owner

To the editor,

I have been, and will continue to be, a proponent of allowing dogs to be off-leash. It is healthy for the dog to have that time, and it is also what many people enjoy about our communities – ample space to romp and roam for animals and people alike.

There are many points that are and should be taken into consideration as decisions are made about whether or not to reduce spaces and times to walk with dogs off-leash, including the behavior of dog owners. It is unfortunate that there are a few irresponsible dog owners who will be the blight of those who are responsible.

I write to call attention to a recent evening on Presidents’ Day at Bug Light Park where a dog owner had his two dogs off-leash, as did several others, including myself. What was a lovely day, quickly flipped when one of his dogs attacked and bit my dog, resulting in an evening at urgent care, a drainage tube, a dozen stitches, and an expensive vet bill, not to mention the trauma to my dog and myself and what will be weeks of physical rehabilitation and likely longer for mental rehabilitation.

Owners like this add to the reason to keep dogs on-leash, leading to more and more rules and denying those who do follow the rules to freely frequent the places we should all be able to enjoy. If you own a dog, I implore you to please be responsible, and if you have the slightest inclination your dog might be aggressive, keep them on a leash.

I also ask that if you are the person I had the misfortune to come upon, that you please work to repair the harm. We must all work together to keep spaces open for our dogs.

Heather Drake

Cape Elizabeth