Feb
24, 2010
From
the Lexington Minuteman
Many
still barking about leash rules
http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington/highlight/x531843849/Letters-Many-still-barking-about-leash-rules
Posted Feb 24,
2010 @ 08:15 AM
Lexington —
Editor's note: The Lexington Minuteman has been inundated with letters
the past few weeks about the Conservation Commission’s decision to leash dogs
at Willards Woods. There were too many letters to publish, however, here is a
collection of snippets from letters the newspaper received.
I have lived in
Lexington for over 50 years and my wife has lived here for over 35 years. About
four years ago we discovered Willards Woods when we purchased a new puppy and
on the advice our veterinarian decided to walk our family dog where she could
run free and get much needed exercise. Since I am semi-retired, I usually take
the dog to the Woods about three times a week, year round. In all those visits
I have never stepped in dog poop, been accosted by another dog or had our dog,
a 75-pound yellow Lab bother anyone. I have also never parked anywhere but the
North Street Lot. The more I listened to those people who wanted dogs to be
leashed, a small minority of speakers, the more it became apparent to me that
the real issue here isn’t dog droppings, growling dogs or dog walkers (a bogus
argument as I haven’t seen anyone with more than two dogs in six months), the
real issue is that the Brent Road residents don’t want cars in their
neighborhood. I wonder why some kind of parking regulation couldn’t be
worked out to defuse this issue. I can’t believe that an equitable solution
can’t be arrived at that let’s dogs run free and get their exercise. — Thomas
B. Whelan, Ballard Terrace
I would like to
state my support of allowing dogs off-leash in Willard’s Woods. What is at
stake is that daily exposure, to the land and people that make many of us feel
complete. Suburbs can be isolating, as paradoxical as it seems, thus providing
a beautiful property where hundreds of people become connected to the land is a
major contribution of the Conservation Commission. The simultaneous daily
exposure to other people cannot be underestimated. Many individuals have a
strong community from their walks at Willard’s. Through the interactions of
their dogs, people have built friendships, obtained employment, and created
that social network that may be difficult to create when one doesn’t have children
in the Lexington schools. Those connections are so valued that some continue to
come back to the woods after moving, or after their dog dies, in the hopes of
seeing old acquaintances. While a very few abutters may feel their rights as
property owners are being impinged upon, I would argue that the Conservation
Commissions hope of citizen involvement and connection to the land is being
answered in allowing dogs to lead their owners to Willard’s Woods. — Gail
O’Keefe, Slocum Road
We've lived down
the street from Willard's Woods on North Street for 16 years. While we only
occasionally walk our dog there (on leash: he's not well trained enough to be
off), it seems to us that over time, the balance of use at Willards Woods has
tipped from being conserved open space that dogs and dog walkers happily shared
with recreational walkers and kids walking and riding bikes to Diamond Middle
School, to being for all intents and purposes a dog park. We can say that much
of the wildlife we saw 16 years ago is gone: deer, woodchucks, and rabbits are
fewer and farther between in our neighborhood now. For those who regularly walk
their dogs at Willard's Woods, the deep emotional connection to the Woods and
the joys and benefits they and their dogs find there is clearly genuine. The
present conflict appears to center on this tension: dog park or conservation
land? Maybe it's time to call it what it is, and develop a set of guidelines
and a plan for the Willard's Woods Dog Park, provided that use can be
reconciled with the Conservation Commission's mandate to protect and maintain
town conservation land. — Sally Zimmerman and Allen Olsen, North Street
I wish to add my
voice to the many who disagree passionately with requiring a leash law at
Willard's Woods. As a long-time dog owner, I have seen a gradual, steady
improvement in the conditions which the non dog-walkers have rightfully
complained about. There is much, much less dog mess left on the ground now; in
fact, I see many dog-owners picking up other people's dogs' messes, when they
are overlooked. The large groups of dogs have been successfully banned. And in
the past two years I think I have encountered only one unruly dog not properly
controlled: a huge improvement, and not cause to leash the scores of mannerly
dogs who dearly love using the woods daily. The parking situation has been
greatly improved, as well, since the town improved the North Street entrance.
Furthermore, the dog walkers are some of the best caretakers of the woods. I
know I am not the only dog walker who pulls invasive garlic mustard plants and
picks up litter. — Sara McGlinchey, Locust Avenue
Banning dogs from
being off-leash at Willards Woods would be an absolutely devastating decision
for the quality of lives of the dogs, their owners, and I feel it would also go
against a great part of what makes Lexington such a special
community. Saying that you want to stop the dogs at Willards Woods because
of a few bad apples would be like me asking to shut Cedar Street down because
there are some cars breaking the speed limits. My suggested solution to
the speeding would be enforcement and education, not shutting down the street.
I would suggest the same over at Willard Woods. I spent most of my life
not being a dog owner, and now can say that I see both sides of the coin, and
to be honest, there has to be a way to make both sides happy, because taking
away the only place where dogs can meet up and play harmlessly together can’t
be the answer. Let’s educate the dog owners to the appropriate
behavior. Let’s have cleanup days at the woods if that is part of the
problem. Let’s fine the owners like our town law states. Let’s
enforce the parking laws, have permits, have pre-approved times… let’s think of
something that doesn’t cause the dogs to not be able to enjoy a necessary part
of their existence. — Jamie Prestileo, Cedar Street