I am disappointed by another intemperate ad hominem argument against limiting unleashed dogs in South Portland (“Letter to the editor: Don’t shut out S. Portland’s dogs,” Feb. 12, Page A4).

Unfortunately, it typifies the behavior of those advocating for access to the city’s only public beach, a narrow stretch just a half-mile in length, by unleashed dogs whose numbers reach into the hundreds.

Attacking those who disagree, with name calling and dismissal of their reported experience, is unbecoming and unhelpful, suggesting an unwillingness to face the inconvenient truth.

Yes, South Portland has generous acres of public open space, and one of them that has allowed unleashed dogs has been seriously degraded. If a designated dog park would be “unsanitary, unshaded (and) grassless” because of too many unleashed dogs, why is it preferable for our only bit of sandy beach to be?

Andrea Thompson McCall
South Portland

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