I am responding to the Feb. 12 letter “Don’t shut out S. Portland’s dogs” (Page A4) as a dog and nature lover, as well as a member of South Portland’s Dogs and Public Spaces Advisory Committee (Ad Hoc).

The committee is exploring how best to accommodate large numbers of unleashed dogs and their owners without excluding most others from our public parks, particularly Hinckley and Willard Beach. Both parks are natural habitats for hundreds of woodland and shore birds, including numerous species of migratory birds and ducks.

The committee has learned from Brad Zitske, shorebird biologist and former regional biologist for the state of Maine, that under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is a federal offense for dogs to chase migrating birds (a near-daily occurrence at Willard Beach, with unleashed dogs chasing birds on land and swimming out to flush ducks from the water). Owners can be charged and fined. Brad also told the committee that piping plovers are protected under both the federal and Maine Endangered Species acts. Three piping plovers were sighted and photographed on Willard Beach in May 2021.

The sand dunes and dune grass are also protected by Maine state laws. Many unleashed dogs routinely run through the dunes, pooping and urinating.

The committee will hear a presentation on the pros and cons of dog parks by canine behaviorist Judy Moore. Her expertise and Brad’s talk will help inform the committee’s recommendations to our City Council.

Diane Gotelli
South Portland

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