Summer before last I was so incensed I was going to sit down and compose a note, but never got to it. Last week our granddaughter was knocked down and bitten (not badly, thank goodness) by a “voice controlled” dog on Willard Beach. This pushed me to act. We love our dogs in this family; it was one of the saddest days when we had to say goodbye to our dear collie mix, and our daughters have wonderful dogs. But when we cannot visit our beloved beach without fear of being knocked down, having a bag of beach toys urinated on (owner not even noticing) and generally having to leave because of unruly dogs, it is a sad day. It has been said that we should keep the little ones near us and watch out for the dogs, but I ask, what is more important, children, or the running, out-of-control dogs?

Gloria Robbins
South Portland