Calling all dog lovers who treasure our off-leash privileges!
This is a long but important post - please read to the end if you love using our South Portland parks, trails and Willard Beach with your pup!
The South Portland City Council is considering a new ordinance that would restrict year-round off-leash privileges at Willard Beach, Hinckley Park, and other city parks and trails, to dogs with a tag indicating that they are owned by South Portland residents. All other dogs would be required to be leashed. Even if you are a South Portland resident, this change should concern you because it is a reaction to an active and vocal group of citizens who oppose off-leash privileges for dogs on our beach and in our parks and open spaces.
SoPoDog members will be at Willard Beach this weekend talking to dog owners about this issue. We urge all dog owners who support the continuation of off-leash privileges to reach out to their City Councilors and/or attend and speak up at the remote City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 7 at 6:30 pm. The Council has heard the opposition's tales of mayhem at the beach and parks. We need to tell them what we see every day, encourage them to see it for themselves, and make sure that they understand how much we value the privilege of off-leash access. Scroll down for more information about how to attend the meeting, contact the Councilors, and support the South Portland Dog Owners Group.
We remind dog owners of these good citizenship guidelines for dogs and dog owners:
The South Portland City Council is considering a new ordinance that would restrict year-round off-leash privileges at Willard Beach, Hinckley Park, and other city parks and trails, to dogs with a tag indicating that they are owned by South Portland residents. All other dogs would be required to be leashed. Even if you are a South Portland resident, this change should concern you because it is a reaction to an active and vocal group of citizens who oppose off-leash privileges for dogs on our beach and in our parks and open spaces.
SoPoDog members will be at Willard Beach this weekend talking to dog owners about this issue. We urge all dog owners who support the continuation of off-leash privileges to reach out to their City Councilors and/or attend and speak up at the remote City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 7 at 6:30 pm. The Council has heard the opposition's tales of mayhem at the beach and parks. We need to tell them what we see every day, encourage them to see it for themselves, and make sure that they understand how much we value the privilege of off-leash access. Scroll down for more information about how to attend the meeting, contact the Councilors, and support the South Portland Dog Owners Group.
We remind dog owners of these good citizenship guidelines for dogs and dog owners:
- Voice control. Does your dog hear you and come to you immediately when called? Really? Or does your dog need more training to respond to your voice command? If the answer is yes, you as a responsible citizen and dog owner MUST get training for your pet or keep it leashed. (Note: we are seeking donations/ideas/trainers for free public training sessions at Willard and Hinckley. If you have ideas, please contact us at the e-mail address below, or through Facebook.)
- Sight control. Is your dog under your visual surveillance at ALL times? This means that you are not talking with others and taking your eyes off your dog. You are not reading emails or texting on your phone. You are always, constantly attentive to what your pup is up to and physically close enough to make corrections.
- Dog Behavioral Issues. People who are against dogs being off-leash consistently point to behavioral issues as THE issue. Keep in mind that behavioral issues go beyond whether your dog can be aggressive or snippy; overly friendly or playful dogs frighten some people too. Some dogs just don't belong in an environment that requires a well-socialized animal. Others need more training, or need to spend most if not all of their time leashed in exciting places like beaches and parks. Are you being realistic about your own dog?
- Human Behavior. Do you pick up after your dog every time? Do you respond politely to others pointing out behavior issues with your dog, like romping through protected dunes, running up to people, or jumping?
- Licensing. Your dog must be licensed in South Portland and your license tag should be on the dog’s collar. You can obtain a license at the City Clerk's window at City Hall, or online.
See something, say something! When you see inappropriate dog behavior, don't be afraid to speak up CALMLY AND POLITELY. Remember, many dog owners are first time dog people, or new puppy owners, who are still learning about their dogs and dog citizenship. Share your experience and let people know that a few badly behaved dogs can jeopardize this privilege for all of us.
How can I help us keep our off-leash privileges?
How can I help us keep our off-leash privileges?
Attend and Speak at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 7 at 6:30 pm. Council meetings are held remotely, via Zoom -join the meeting by visiting the City of South Portland home page at https://www.southportland.org/
E-mail and/or Call ALL City Councilors:
| Mayor Misha C. Pride (District 3) | mpride@southportland.org | (207) 749-7817 |
| Jocelyn Leighton (District 1) | jleighton@southportland.org | (207) 518-0974 |
| Katherine W. Lewis (District 2) | klewis@southportland.org | (207) 233-7615 |
| April L. Capriccio (District 3) | acaricchio@southportland.org | (207) 415-4561 |
| Deqa A. Dhalac (District 5) | ddhalac@southportland.org | (207) 553-0303 |
| Susan Henderson (at-large) | shenderson@southportland.org | (207) 799-6350 |
| Katelyn S. Bruzgo (at-large) | kbruzgo@southportland.org | (207) 650-3187 |
City councilors receive a lot of phone calls and e-mails, so try to be brief and straightforward. Here are some ideas of what you might tell them:
- Remind the councilors that the beach and park overcrowding problem they aim to solve with this last-minute ordinance change is seasonal and that in less than a month the crowds will disappear. There will then be plenty of time to gather facts and explore other options before next summer.
- Listen to the August 24 city council meeting (https://go.boarddocs.com/me/
sport/Board.nsf/Public, click meetings in upper right corner). If what you see when you visit the beach and parks isn’t what you are hearing from other citizens, tell the councilors what you see, and encourage them to visit and see for themselves before making changes that affect so many people. - Tell the councilors what it means to you to be able to walk your dog on the beach and in the parks. Have you found a community of friends? Has your dog become better socialized – and a better dog? Has dog walking been a refuge during COVID (as it has for many of us)? Be positive, tell your story and help the councilors understand why you value this privilege so much.
- Remind the councilors that dog hours are already limited at Willard for 5 months a year, and that those who complain about dogs on the beach seem to be unwilling to share even that small piece of the pie.
Support the South Portland Dog Owners Group!
SoPoDog is a registered Maine nonprofit grassroots organization that promotes responsible dog ownership, community service and privileges for dogs to walk, run and play off-leash in open spaces. We led a successful 2009 effort to defeat a city referendum that sought to ban off-leash dogs from Willard Beach. Your donations support our continued advocacy for our pups.
