Hi Dick—thank you for starting the Mt. Misery website and providing a forum for unhappy dog walkers to connect and organize.

I’ve finally whittled my letter to the Lincoln Conservation Commission down to a reasonable length, and have included it below. You are welcome to use it on the site.

Best wishes,

Cathy Hawkes
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March 28, 2005

To the Lincoln Conservation Commission:

I was so sad to hear of the Commission’s decision to ban off-leash dog walking at Mt. Misery, and I beg you to reconsider.

I’ve been walking at Mt. Misery for over 10 years now, and I have found the vast majority of dogs and their owners there to be kind, well-mannered, and responsible. We pick up dog waste, don’t allow fights, and steer our dogs clear of non-dog-owning trail users. I’ve never seen a dog harass or kill a wild animal or bird. What I do see is dogs filled with joy, racing down the trails or romping together, and people in pairs, small groups, or alone, enjoying the beauty of the woods and fields. The people who come here, like me, care deeply about the environment, about having open land and wildlife. Many of us support Mass Audubon, the Trustees of Reservations, MassPIRG; many of us are bird watchers and hikers. We don’t want our dogs bothering people or hurting anyone or anything.
  
I feel so lucky to be able to spend an hour or two walking in the woods each day, as an antidote to the stresses of my work life. I can count a dozen friends I’ve made over the years through walking my dog, and countless acquaintances I see regularly. People find friendship, true love, advice, and companionship on these walks. Every time I walk my dog I will say hello to, if not have a conversation with, several total strangers. Where else in this world could I say that? And this is the most important plea I can make to you as to why off-leash dog walking should continue at Mt. Misery. It has become a wonderful, significant way for people to connect and socialize while they exercise and relax. If you ban off-leash walking, that great source of joy for many people will be gone.

Dogs and walkers also provide an all-day form of security for a park. Since Rock Meadow in Belmont began enforcing leash laws some years ago, effectively ending dog walking there, I’ve seen much more trash, broken bottles, evidence of campfires, and people using the parking lot to meet up or to dump garbage. I never felt unsafe during the “dog years” but now I don’t like to go there alone. I’ve heard that the Paine Estate in Waltham welcomes dog walkers for this very reason; they keep troublemakers out and act as a constant, no-cost patrol of the grounds.  

There are two lovely nature preserves close to Mt. Misery—Walden Pond and Drumlin Farm—that ban dogs altogether. I can think of many other woods and beaches in Greater Boston where dogs are banned or leash laws strictly enforced. Therefore I would say that there is no shortage of beautiful places where people who don’t like dogs can walk without encountering them. I am happy to respect these bans, I only ask that there be a few places kept available to dogs and their owners, for the enjoyment it brings us. Our state and local taxes provide ballparks, playgrounds, and ice rinks without our insisting that they benefit every citizen. Why not a place where people can walk their dogs?

I speak for many people with this letter: please let us continue to walk our dogs off-leash at
Mt. Misery.

Thank you sincerely,

Catherine Hawkes (and Keely, the Australian Shepherd)
Arlington MA