I am disgusted and disappointed that some members of the Westbrook City Council have crushed plans for completing the dog park. After waiting a year, getting commitment of $25,000 from Idexx, spending part of that money on a fenced area which would have been for small dogs, and designing an extension, progress on development of the dog park has come to a grinding halt.

Councilor John O’Hara said he would not use the dog park for his dog as designed. He wants his dog to be able to chase squirrels in a natural wooded setting like Quarry Run in Portland. He wants the city to custom build a dog park for his dog. It is ridiculous to compare Westbrook to Portland, which has more people, more dogs and more money.

Unfortunately, councilors Reilly, Rairdon and Sanphy voted with him. Mayoral candidate Mike Sanphy just lost my vote.

My dog needs a place to run and interact with other dogs and other people. Crazy as it sounds, the existing fenced area is chained shut, a monument to incompetence and childish selfishness. So we have nothing.

Ann Bainbridge

Westbrook