Hi Dick,

 

This is a copy of the letter I sent to the Editor of the Lincoln Journal,  I also sent virtually the same letter to the Conservation Commission.

 

Thanks again for your efforts,

 

Anne

 

 

April 4, 2005

 

 

 

To the Editor:

 

It’s with great sadness that I’ve read the many letters from dog owners, who, like me, are broken-hearted at the thought of losing the privilege of walking off-leash with our dogs at Mt. Misery.  If you think “broken-hearted” is too emotional a word to use in this context, think again.  It’s a feeling shared by all the dog owners I’ve talked to in relation to the issue, and they are many.

 

Over the past few weeks you’ve heard from so many smart, responsible, concerned people who hope to find an alternative to the blanket ruling the Commission has chosen to enact.  I hope fervently that you’ll hear our voices and consider our suggestions. 

 

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 allow our dogs to bother people or hurt other animals.

 

Compromise on this issue makes so much more sense and serves the needs of so many people from all around the area.  Like many of the people who’ve taken the time to write to you, I’m not from Lincoln.  I live in North Sudbury and have been walking my dog at Mt. Misery for years.  Like the others, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive.  I’ve never seen a dog out of control, a dog menacing people or other dogs, or a dog that’s hurt or killed Mt. Misery’s wildlife.

 

I would be more than happy to contribute to a fund for Mt. Misery’s  upkeep, to buy a trail tag for my dog, participate in a quarterly clean-up—in short to do whatever it takes to retain the use of the land for well-behaved dogs to run free.  As an out-of-towner (who lives closer than many Lincoln residents), I wouldn’t hesitate to pay for and to do my share to find and maintain a viable solution.

 

Like so many others, I implore the Conservation Committee not to take the lazy way out simply enforce a leash law.  Rather, please consider:

 

• Trail tags for the dogs
• Trail maintenance fees for dog walkers
• Specific hours for off-lease walking
• Trash bins and pick-up bags
• Monthly or quarterly clean-ups by dog walkers

 

It must be clear by now that we’re a powerful and concerned lobby and would be more than happy to be on mailing lists and volunteer committees to make sure all community efforts to care for and maintain Mt. Misery are well-manned and enthusiastically supported.

 

There is land enough for us all to use-- dog walkers and those who do not want to walk with dogs.  We can make this work.

 

Our society is regulated enough.  The Commission needs to be strong enough to embrace both sides of this issue and bring us altogether through a viable compromise that protects the integrity of the land and the freedom of the people from the larger community—not just a small minority of Lincoln residents.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Anne, Phil, Samantha (8), Nicholas (5) Hollows and

Sable, our gentle black lab mix and dearest friend

 

35 Field Road

Sudbury, MA 01776