Gary Crosby has once again spread more proverbial bull manure about the Willard Beach issue than any amount of poop a well-attended dog or responsible pet owner has ever left behind.

Contrary to Gary’s assertion, a visit to the Save Willard Beach Web site will not provide the thoughtful voter with information needed to make an informed decision. What you will find on the site are unsubstantiated claims about the dangers of dogs on the beach, angry attacks on responsible dog owners and on Gary’s colleagues on last year’s Willard Beach Task Force, and precious few facts.

Gary paints a picture of dog walkers on Willard Beach as arrogant, self-absorbed, uncaring, and unwilling to share the beach. The reality is quite the contrary. As responsible dog owners, we maintain control over our dogs and clean up after them. As we stroll the beach, we also clean up debris left behind by humans. (The South Portland Dog Owners Group organizes regularly scheduled clean-ups – the only organization of its kind in the city to do so.) Dog owners abide by the current ordinance and we educate others about pet care and about the need to be responsible stewards of public places.

Gary Crosby’s misguided representations of South Portland dog owners and the Willard Beach “controversy” in the course of his current dog ban and City Council campaigns are an affront. I urge thoughtful South Portland voters to reject both the dog ban and Gary’s council candidacy on Election Day.