Letter to the Editor Lincoln Journal

: cktredmond

The recent Mount Misery dog regulations have really made me angry. I find it irritating that the Conservation Commission feels it is not required to have public hearings on this issue. Why should the Commission feel that any of us have a right to express our opinion on the use and restrictions placed on land that we bought with our tax money. How silly of us all to think we have a say in the matter.

I have walked my dogs there for 30 years. I think the leash law

there is just a horrible idea. Discuss the problems and find suitable, creative solutions, Do not just take the easy way out and pronounce a leash law. We deserve better. There are lots of trails in Lincoln many have little or no dog use because of limited access. Dogs were banned a few years ago from the DeCordova trails which was a hardship for many of us who liked to use that trail system. This forced more people on the MT Misery property. There is land enough for us all to use-- dog walkers and those who do not want to walk with dogs.

There are lots of more creative ways to deal with the problems presented. Have a clean up day once a month. I am sure the regular participants will have no problem pitching in. Have a trail tag to add to the collar of dogs who use the Mt Misery land. A tag would help identify abusers. Have a weekend in the Spring when contributions are collected from the dog walkers to help with maintenance of the trails and the installation of more trash barrels. Have more barrels for people to put their plastic bags in. As we all know the dogs are most likely to defecate shortly after they get out of the car so the first half mile of trails in either direction should have bags and receptacles available. These problems can be solved.

First, Sandy Pond, then Mt. Misery, what next-- a leash law for all conservation land, worse yet a leash law for the whole town. Soon we will be like any other dog unfriendly town and we can all wonder why we pay such high taxes to live in a town that is becoming just as

bureaucratic and rule obsessive as everywhere else. We have all this

conversation land that we all voted for and paid for so we could enjoy a stroll in the woods with our families, friends, horses and dogs . Bit by bit those freedoms are being taken away. Soon we will no longer BE ALLOWED to enjoy a walk on the land we sacrificed to buy with our pets running free-- we might as well put them on a leash and drive to Fresh Pond in Cambridge.

We live in Lincoln- we have traditions here. In the past those traditions have been nurtured and respected. Generations of dogs have gotten out of their car at Mt Misery and made a bee line to the pond for a dip. They paddle around a bit, shake and then go on their way with their outdoor loving humans following closely behind enjoying the fresh air and nature surrounding them. How many of us have taken a lunch with our children and grandchildren to the banks of the Sudbury River and had a little picnic while the dogs took a refreshing dip on a hot summer's day? A few of us have been so bold as to roll up our jeans and put our feet in the water so that we could throw a stick for the dog to fetch. Ah alas--Now we are all just too much trouble.

The Conservation Commission and some other town leaders are on the wrong side of this one-- really wrong.

Listen to Harriet Todd she remembers the way were and the way things are supposed to be.

Crickett Redmond

29 Boyce Farm Road

Lincoln, MA