Letters to the Editor

+ Keep dogs off the beaches
Dear Editor:
We are homeowners on the beach side of Gulfside Drive on Longboat Key. We do not have a dog. So far this summer there have been several dogs, with and without leashes, on our shrinking beach. We have seen dog poop on the beach and it was not cleaned up. We have seen dogs with leashes “get away” from their owners and take off down the beach. We have seen a “service” dog frolicking in the surf without a leash. We have seen poop on the places where we usually walk.

We have small grandchildren with whom we enjoy the beach. We worry that one of those big friendly, oh-he-won’t-hurt-you dogs will be a danger to our grandchildren, especially if it gets away from its owner.

Often we like to go to the beach for sunset with friends and family. The sunset will usually occur during the proposed 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. dog time on the beach. Why should we have to share this magical time with someone else’s dog?

Many people walk on the beach in the early morning before 8 a.m. Will they enjoy having dogs for company? We won’t.

Please, no dogs on the Longboat Key beaches.
Bette and Bennie Maniscalo
Longboat Key