The South Portlander

too bad the pictures aren’t clear enough to show the woman and her children walking the dog and “leaving the mess behind”.  I can’t make it out. 
Also, from the site they say “A small but vocal group that wants to walk their dogs on Willard beach found a Doctor to help further their cause” and yet these same people say there are 50+ dogs on the beach before people get there.  Is this the same group who was saying that there are 100 dogs there?  I believe Dr. Howell, and all the other members of the task force, was appointed, not put there by any of the dog owners. 
I have been to this beach two nights just this past week for a walk and only counted 9 dogs on Wednesday night and 10 dogs on Thursday night (between 6-7pm), and none of these dogs were barking.  None of them were jumping on anyone and were not bothering people who were walking without dogs.
I did however see the new granite bench had been spray painted with the word “POOP”.  I did see that the snack shack has been spray painted.  I saw a group of teenagers near the snack shack and climbing on the lifeguard chairs.  I saw two young boys playing football which is clearly against the local ordinance.  No one called the police.  Everyone accepted each other and used the public space.

Hello everyone-
I hope the Dog Owners Group can work with this “Save Willard Beach” group and any others who have differing views about who should access public space and how public spaces should be used. I invite the members of Save Willard Beach to contact me so we can have an open communication to work toward a better understanding of what we can offer each other in sharing public space.
Something to note: children and adults do share all of the public spaces dogs are allowed… and there are not health problems at any of these locations. I know there is a wealth of scientifically based health information in medical journals that could put the minds of people who are concerned about human and animal interaction at ease. Dogs and humans have lived together for hundreds of thousands of years and there are many reasons for this, one of them being: Dogs do not transmit disease to humans in typical, everyday interactions. I don’t want the public to fear going to a public place like Willard Beach, a Beach that is healthier than it has been in many years. Just ask residents who remember pushing raw sewage and toilet paper aside to be able to swim at the beach when they were children. The beach is well taken care of by dog owners on a daily basis who clean the trash up from humans that wash up twice a day.

I welcome anyone to join us on our monthly clean up dates the Dog Owners Group has all summer long and all winter long. We usually have them on the first Saturday of each month.

Thank you!
Crystal Goodrich
you can contact me at:
our website is: http://www.sopodog.com

While being on the task force we all agreed not to talk to the press or otherwise address the issue.  Our time on the board is now over and I am now able to speak up.  First off I am a dog owner and have been nearly all my life.  I do not hate dogs as some may think.  However I do believe people come first.  This issue is more than just disease and parasites.  There are people that have a very real fear of dogs and find dog poop to be gross.  There are reports of people having been jumped on, knocked down, food taken, stepping in poop, play toys taken and the list goes on.  In looking at the sopodog web site I counted 10 locations to exercise dogs.  The group I am part of believes it is not at all unreasonable to have one of those 10 locations available to exclusive human use for 5 months a year.  Most dog owners are responsible however there are some that are not and that will never change.  As I walked the beach one day I watched a ladies dog have diarrhea all over the the soft sand and she proceeded to walk right by it and three dogs pee on the play set and one in the dunes.  Now most of this is not a problem in the off season but during the summer it is.  In all literature to be found the common thread is do not let children play where dogs poop.  Now this is pretty simple to cure.  On the issue of sharing.  Part of sharing means not ruining it for the other party so as to not be usable in their eyes.  I and many others find it to be unusable after all the dogs get to use it from 6-9 am during the summer.  As for the so called lack of people speaking up, that is because they don’t want to be verbally attacked so they speak of it in private to those of us willing to be public.  At this point there are a lot of people that I and a few others speak for.  Also as a dog owner I have made it known I am in favor of a good dog park and would be willing to work on that with anyone.  If it is done well it will take the pressure off all other public space and everyone there will be there for the same reason.

Dog parks do not work! One area becomes overburdened by handling all of the area dogs rather than disbursing them throughout the city’s open spaces. It becomes a penned-in mess that is unactractive to visit and no longer encourages social interaction and community involvement. Those who currently use the beach and parks have healthy, positive interactions with their neighbors, they participate in clean-up events (necessitated by ill-behaved humans), and their use of the spaces has reduced crime and increased safety.  Lastly, there are many humans who believe that owning a dog is not about having another possession...another thing that you take out when you want to enjoy it and then return it to its cage. My dogs are a part of our family. They participate in every family event, they travel with us to visit family and friends or on vacations, they get me out of the house every day and encourage not only my getting exercise, but social interaction with my neighbors, and they give me unconditional love. My walks with them on the beach or at the park often are more for my benefit than theirs. So, if I am obeying the laws, and am respectful of other humans (yes, I heel my dogs when I see a jogger or young children), please explain to me why I cannot enjoy our city spaces like you enjoy them with your grandchildren, Gary? Until proven otherwise, I am certain that this issue truly is more about a few wealthy beachfront homeowners who wish to have a private beach rather than about (unsubstantiated) dog poop concerns.

accept state rules, fence it off and make Willard a State Park.  All users, even those living 100ft from the beach will have to pay a fee or buy a state park pass to enter the area.  This will pay for the people working there, pay for enforcement to be on the scene, and it will help curb the less the diligent dog owners.  This will also then pay for any resource issues at the beach as well including replanting dune grass or anything else…

I am a bit fed up with reading and hearing that people who are opposed to allowing dogs on the beach are afraid to speak up because they “don’t want to be verbally attacked.” One of our esteemed city councilors made this claim earlier this year and a very vocal Task Force member is making the claim again.  You are making us dog owners out to be monsters, when in fact, we are just speaking up about an issue that is very important to us.  If there are hoards of people who feel unsafe on the beach, I implore them to address their concerns to the Dog Owners Group or email their Councilor, so that we actually can count the number of complaints.  We are extremely reasonable and self policing..believe me...we are obviously passionate about access to exercising our dogs and socializing with our dogs in outdoor settings, so we want to keep it possible.

1.) the task force recommendations do not call for a dog park, in fact they don’t want one at all. That idea was shot down. That will not happen.

2.) it doesn’t sound like Gary Crosby’s group wants to work with anyone except for anyone who will get dogs off the beach in the summer. That is the bottom line according to his website.

3.) does anyone else find it odd that while the Dog Owners Group has names of local citizens, members and the president of the group with their contact information - the site Gary Crosby owns does not have his name on it at all? Only “sopodefender@yahoo.com” and a “contact us” form that doesn’t tell you who you are writing to.

4.) does anyone know what time the first meeting is for the Save Willard Beach group? I know it’s tomorrow Tuesday 10/14 at the community center, but not what time it will be. I have lots of ideas for how to Save Willard Beach from the people who want to make it private and for their selected uses only.

5.) will the Save Willard Beach group be addressing the Maine Healthy Beaches report and extend the pipes that provide runoff discharge into Casco Bay to improve the water quality on the beach? That would be productive, but I see it is not a goal of the group. It seems the goals of the group are to further divide the community in the beach neighborhood and the South Portland community overall.

It’s too bad there aren’t more groups that try to bring people together to deal with problems instead of working on their own limited agenda of making public property private and used by a “silent group”. It’s a shame that the community has had to suffer through all of this and that the Council has supported this kind of behavior. I am also surprised that Mr. Crosby brought this new group forward before the report on the dog task force was given at the workshop. How very undermining of the group that gave all of their time to get the recommendations written.

Wow, I’ve seen/heard it all now.  My youngest daughter is terrified of dogs.  At numerous city council meetings I’ve spoken about the issue with dogs at Willard beach.  Back in october of ‘06 i purchased a home on Beach St hoping to enjoy the location and have had mostly negative experiences since i moved here.  ‘Oh Poop’ you are an idiot… do you have children, i’m guessing you do not, heel, heel. 

I play soccer, throw a football, baseball, frisbee and such with my three children on the athletic fields at SMCC.  All the while I watch dog owners lead their dogs down the green belt, leash free, and when my oldest daughter goes down to the beach I have to hold my youngest while we are up on the field because she it too afraid to go with my oldest.  Standing there keeping an eye on my oldest down at the water I’ve watched numerous dogs run up to her well away from the dogs ‘owner’.  I am sick and tired of stupid dogs owners and sopodogs touting Willard beach as a ‘dog friendly’ spot.

When I moved here I’d asked my next door neighbor why he put up an above ground pool in his back yard and his response absolutely floored me.  and i quote “Well, I’ve had a number of run-ins with dog owners and decided that it is just easier to not go to the beach, that’s why I set up the pool.”

I, for one, am not a wealthy beach-front owner and I’m committed to seeing that during the ‘people’ season dogs are OFF the beach.  One last comment, two-faced dr. douggie howell is biased to keeping dogs on the beach as he just bought a ‘beach-front’ property and wants to let his pooches pee and poo where our children will play.  Also he said as much in an early meeting of the Willard Beach Task force.  That being “It’s actually good for children’s immune systems to play in feces, it helps strengthen it.” What a joke..... 
If you don’t believe me just ask Dr. August Valenti, Head of the Epidemiology and Infection Control department at Maine Med.

I look forward to discussing these issues with Crystal Goodrich and the entire South Portland population.  Once people have heard ALL the issues I’m sure the reasonable people of South Portland will agree that Willard Beach is not for the dogs.

This response is directed to ‘Dog Owner’ .  Aren’t you Patti Smith’s partner?  And I also understand that you both are for keeping open spaces within South Portland open for dogs off leash?  What about the residents of South Portland that are afraid of dogs????  Do they not count?  What about people with children that are afraid or timid of dogs, do they not count as well???  I’m going to do my best to make sure this information gets to all the voters of South Portland not just your group.

A number of things.  Oh Poop on 2008 10 13 I do understand that peoples dogs are very important to them.  I still don’t understand why they have to be accepted in every public park 365 days a year.
Dog parks do work and if they did not they would be shut down.  Much to the contrary they are increasing.  The other thing is your statement of wealthy beach front owners wanting a private beach.  My sincere question for you is why would I argue for that? I do not live close to the beach.  I would no longer have access.  Very counter productive for me.

Dog owner, I have talked to some of the councilors and I encourage you to do the same.  The answer I got is they are receiving calls about problems.  Also you need to look no further than this very web site to see why a lot of the people won’t speak up.  Look at how some respond to me.  I do believe that many of you are responsible owners, but let me tell you of those that aren’t.  Sunday I took my dog for a walk down the greenbelt and down under the bridge then up through millcreek. One pile of poop on the greenbelt two piles under the bridge and one I was lucky enough to step in at Millcreek.  Sopo dog group does a good job working with those who care.  However you will always have the bad ones that don’t and they will in the end spoil it for all of us that have dogs.

CommunitySplit on 2008 10 13 Interesting post, First off it’s not my group there are a number of people involved and we are all just in the beginning stages. The committee is over and as I said before we agreed not to talk out until it was done.  Well the committee is done and from what I can read from your posting you would like me to give up my first amendment rights. I am a citizen of South Portland and no longer a committee member I do not speak for the committee.  As much as it bothers some people that I speak up I have never once and never will ask someone with a differing opinion not to speak.  It is one of the most important things we can do.  Also for someone that chastised me for not putting my name on the web site, I did notice yours is not on your post.  I hope it the future people will use their names on the posts.

Again wow.... 
And I quote “1.) the task force recommendations do not call for a dog park, in fact they don’t want one at all. That idea was shot down. That will not happen.”
So I guess we, the residents of South Portland, have to deal with dog feces on/in all public spaces?  I took my three children and their friend to Hinckley Park for a geo-caching expedition.  What we found was nothing but dog crap and a huge pile of dog vomit on a wooden bridge within the park.  Are you people kidding me???  How about I buy a car, take the car to your yard or just in front of your house and change my oil without a catch-pan????  Please help me understand the logic of people that impart their wants/desires onto the general public and call it fair or reasonable???  anyone? anyone?  nope i guessed not.....

Mr. Crosby, you complain about how people have responded to your message, yet I am the one called an “idiot” by one of your cohorts. You suggested a dog park and so I responded to this idea. I was respectful and shared my views ("first amendment” right?). So, please explain why it is those that are opposed to dogs on Willard Beach that are the ones who are angry, rude, and intimidating?

John G. - I posted my comment as an individual with my own thoughts and ideas.  You need to contact Patti Smith directly to get her views on open space issues or just review the Land Trust debate that was broadcast on SPC-TV.  I am sure she would be happy to discuss these issues with you directly.

I am a dog owner and a resident of South Portland. Gary, what I don’t understand about your position is that you’re saying because 100% of people are not in compliance with city ordinances, then those who do follow the law need to suffer for it. Some teenagers are disrespectful and unruly but I would never recommend banning them from a public space. Some people are irresponsible drivers but I don’t think we should ban all automobiles. This is an issue of enforcement.

John G - I hate to break it to you but I am also a resident of South Portland. It would be nice if people would be a little more tolerant and understanding of those who have different hobbies and ways to spend their free time. I don’t understand why you think your use of public space is more important than mine. You have the gall to say that dog owners are imposing their will on the general population. I’ve never told you not to go to the space while I am there and I am happy to keep my dog away from you and your family. I value your right to use public spaces… too bad you don’t feel the same way about others.

For your example of leaving an oil stain in front of someone’s house to make sense, you must believe that people never leave behind litter or trash. Apparently you believe that only dog owners leave behind waste. I can tell you that the dog owners groups and others picked up tons of trash on Earth Day at Hinckley Park. I have yet to see a dog drinking a six pack of Miller High Life so I am going to conclude that much trash was human-generated. Again, it is an enforcement issue - litterers and owners of dogs who don’t pick up need to be fined.

We live in a community.  We don’t have to like everyone, thier children, thier pets, the noise they create, the butts they toss out windows while driving, the bikes they ride through public space, etc. 
Being afraid of dogs is a legitimate concern.  However, dogs do not have free reign of any public space 100% of the year, least of all the beach.  6am to 9pm, they are only allowed there for 3 hrs in the very early morning.  If there are dogs there afterward, the person deserves to be fined.  Children also play and walk through other public spaces where dogs are permitted on and off leash, and yes, I have seen people and children swimming in Hinckley Park, and yet no one says is is unsafe there… only the beach.
Bikes are no longer permitted in Hinckley Park, and yet while I walk there, I am interuppted by people and children on bikes.  There is a home owner who rides his snowmobile in Hinckley Park in the winter.  This scares me while I am walking.  Children are not safe under these conditions either… why isn’t anyone addressing this?  What about the smashed beer bottles and evidence of fires in Hickley Park???
Football playing is expressly prohibited on Willard Beach, and yet when I walk there I see a family who lives near the beach (and owns dogs and walks them on the beach) playing football.  Another beach front owner, whose tentant Dr. B (sells soap and lotion through Media Power for bird flu) who went to the council to submit a report of the danger of e-coli on the beach now has his family members walking a dog on the beach.  This person himself has been a staunch supporter of banning dogs from the beach.
Not all owners can be controlled and an attack on the SoPoDog group is not needed.  The members of this group are far outweighed by the non-member dog owning community.  Mr, Hughes pointed this out when he stated he didn’t need their votes, and I agree with him! 
I have seen people walking through public spaces picking up trash and dog feces that doesn’t even belong to them.  They are simply being good stewards where others have not been.
Just because I don’t like something, am afraid, am worried about being sick, etc doesn’t mean that everyone in the entire city should be forced to live by the rules that would me happiest.
This issue has gone on long enough and used too many of my tax dollars.  This is not a city council issue, this is an enforcement issue IF rules are being broken.  Event he police are not clear about the rules regarding dogs on the beach.. when called they have been known to say things similar to “it’s after labor day”.  If they are not clear, how can anyone be clear?

I’ve got a dog, dog is my copilot, my dog is my dog, dogity dog dog, everybody needs a dog, I walk my dog, my dog walks me, dogitaa dog dog, I think about my dog, dream dogs, feed my dog, dogma is dog, dog dogma, dharma and dog, beach dog, leash dog, regatta de dog dog, vote for my dog, talk to my dog, eat with my dog, don’t eat dog, dog eat dog, his dog, her dog, their dog, dogs dog, dog grammy, dog oscar, dog brush, dog god it, god dog it, dognification, dog drummer, dog breath, dog variation, dog standard, dig dog, dog dig, dig dogitty dog, dog digitty dog, ding dog, dog ga ga ga ga, ga dog it, dog ga git, dog dog, dog brain, brain on dog, brain in dog, dog on brainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

there is a link to rules regarding dogs at state beaches on the savewillard website.  Willard is not a state owned beach.  Other city regulated beaches, such as Higgins Beach, restrict dogs in peak months, however, the rules are clearly posted and allow more access for people to enjoy time on the beach with the dogs.
Higgins Rules are:
sunrise to 9am off leash is allowed (not specified on sign that voice control is mandatory)
9am - 5pm no dogs at all
5pm to dusk dogs allowed on leash only
One thing everyone is missing is the group of people who have children and dogs and enjoy the beach at the same time with both the child and dog.  Are these negligent parents?  should DHS be called?
Correct me if I am wrong, but do state beaches allow punts to be tied to trees and allowed to cover up natural resources?  Do state beaches allow boats that can leak gasoline and oil in to the water to be tied just off shore of where children and others are swimming?  Is this less toxic to our children?

Hello John G.-
If you would kindly give me your name I would be happy to speak with you. I think I know who you are, but since you have not put your full name I am just guessing.
Feel free to contact me via email at
-Crystal Goodrich
President South Portland Dog Owners Group

Hello Mr. Crosby-
I didn’t start my own group and not put my name on it, I am just writing to respond to your inflammatory website that you did not sign your name to. I don’t want you to know who I am because, quite honestly, your behavior is so illogical something about you frightens me. You really freak me out, talking about “crapping” and peeing all of the time. It’s really a bit much. Good luck with your group. I wouldn’t associate with it. It’s just disturbing and so is this antisocial behavior and obsession with piles so that you have to list everyone you see in the world. I have hobbies, I highly recommend them to everyone.

Councilor Maxine Beecher is proposing to ban all dogs from Willard Beach May through November. So, it appears that the City Council only cares about what their appointed committees recommend if it is the outcome they wanted in the first place. Apparently Beecher intends to ignore the Task Force final report before even going over it in public for the first time on Wednesday night. What a slap in the face to the Task Force appointees and to the public. We deserve better from our elected leaders. Looks like the special interests of a small group outweigh all others. Thanks Beacher, oops Beecher!

Why not put this on the ballot and let the residents of South Portland decide??

WD - it is ironic that the four leading dog-opponents (Steve Gray, Dan Labrie, Gary Crosby, and John Murphy) are conservatives who typically argue for less government intrusion or legislation yet want the City to legislate a solution to their fear of poop. Oh, that is right, like most conservatives, government is good only when it serves their best interests. Personally, I would support a ballot question as long as the following are also on the ballot:

Would you support banning children from South Portland year round even if claims of broken windows by baseballs, trampled gardens, and graffiti by some children are unfounded?

Would you support banning all drivers in South Portland because a few don’t obey the rules and stop at lights or adhere to the speed limit?

Would you support banning all humans from Willard Beach because monthly and annual clean-up events have proven that humans contribute far too much waste and debris (such as butts, diapers, bottles, etc.)?

Really, WD, where does it stop?

I have to agree with CommunitySplit. Gary, who has never been known for being reserved in his opinions (which is absolutely fine in my opinion) is acting downright wacky. There is more to this story than meets the eye.
Gary, what’s going on? No really Gary. What’s the real story? You and I both know that Willard Beach is cleaner since SoPoDog has been doing its monthly cleanups. You’re a reasonable guy, Gary. Why you are hanging around freakshows like Labrie is beyond me.
I’ll be the first to admit that I have distanced myself from SoPoDog for a number of reasons, but if I wanted dogs off the beach, I wouldn’t be going about it the way you are.
I read the website and your liberal use of the word “crap” is downright creepy. And your pictures are just silly...to the average onlooker they show nothing and make your group look like a bunch of outcast Bigfoot enthusiasts more than anti-dog folks. Not to mention that whomever is randomly snapping pictures of people on the beach is a bit spooky and sneaky.
Grow up Gary. You’ve always been a good guy with a good nose for business. But your sudden outlandishness with regard to this issue has me wondering just what has happened to you lately.

Are you kidding me MorePolitics?  I laugh when people compare pets to humans.  I’m sorry, as much as I love my dog, I believe humans come first.  I would completely support putting this issue on the ballot.  I support banning dogs from Willard Beach in the summer months, it makes sense to me.  I would also support building a dog park, and yes, they do work.  Dogs are not humans, I hate to break it to some of you.  I had to laugh when someone suggested putting a fence around the playscape at the beach.  Fence in our kids so the dogs can run wild?  That’s just wrong.

You deserve no break, “Gimme”. You appear irrational and zealot-like on this issue. So, humans come first? Well, us humans aren’t doing such a great job. I was at Bug Light Park this past week when a field trip of Holy Cross students were walking the greenbelt. I witnessed a student take what looked like a granola bar out of his backpack to eat, and then he threw the wrapper on the ground...even though he just passed a trash can about 15 feet back.  Then I saw about six female students stop, pick up some rocks, and start throwing them in attempts to hit a flock of birds floating on the water...all the while laughing. Perhaps we should ban all children from our parks and beaches, too?

Gimmeabreak
the problem is that savewillardbeach does not want dogs to have access at all.  they had a meeting where they have decided they want dogs off the beach totally and completely and then they will look in to allowing “locals” access little by little at a later date.  It is on the website under meeting updates.
They still have incorrect information posted as well saying that a a small group got Howell to the task force, which is a clear and total lie.  They have been asked to correct this and still haven’t.  The dog group had zero input on who was appointed to the task force and actually were upset and felt the deck stacked against them.  It’s interesting that the opposite side feels the same way.  The only people who had input were councilor Morgan, who cut ties with the dog group when elected in to public services, and councilor Hughes.
In reading the chief complaints, it seems this is more a use issue than anything else.  only when pressed did public safety and noise come up.  According to the savewillardbeach website and I quote, “Two residents pointed out that a local hotel that allows pets actually bused their customers that had dogs down to the beach in their shuttle bus” So instead of approaching these hotels and talking to them, the group has decided, and I quote “In our first meeting we ended up with 13 people voting to have the group go forward united in banning dogs all together from the beach and one vote 6 months on and 6 months off.  The group felt very strongly that this would kind of reset the beach from being called and used as a dog beach and in the future we may be able to reintroduce dogs onto the beach in the off season in hopes it would remain locals using it.”
However, the mission statement on the home page states that they want to challenge a small special interest group from using the beach and deciding what use can be there.  If there is a small interest group using the beach, I have a hard time believing they are organizing people from away to come in to some place they hold dear. The third point was to encourage the council to allow dogs Oct - Apr.  This is in contradiction to banning them all together, and asking to force a a public vote. 
The group seems upset with progress and how the community is changing.  This is just one facet of change.  Some of these same people were on the task force and admitted that use was less this year, and now they state dogs and people were “bussed” in to abuse the beach.
It is difficult to find out what the real issues are, help to address them and work together when it is constantly in flux.  It is difficult for anyone to meet in the middle with them when the middle keeps moving.

Mike, Thanks for the compliments, I guess I will start by giving you my reasons for thinking dogs should be off the beach during the summer.  I don’t believe that it is sharing when many people bring their dogs to the beach do their thing and then say it’s my turn to use it.  I find it both potentially unhealthy and down right gross.  I have a dog and I do not play or picnic in the area of the yard were we keep her and I suspect no one would want to, dog owner or not.  There are a lot of people I have heard from that have had a lot of run ins with both dogs and owners.  I don’t see a problem with truly sharing this city asset 6on/6off.  There are plenty of places to walk dogs in So. Portland for those 6 months. In fact 9 other places according to the sopodog site. I find the green belt works fine for us.  Having an opinion that’s different than yours isn’t wacky as you put it, just different.  The reason I don’t have a problem with dogs on the beach during the winter is people are not laying in the sand with swim suits on or picnicking and it’s highly unlikely that little kids will be playing in the sand in the off season.  As far as Dan and the other beach front residents, they have a very valid point when it comes to noise.  We have a noise ordinance but it is completely unenforceable down there unless we as a city put a cop on the beach full time and we know that’s not going to happen.  The cure is simple, just not easy.  By the way Mike did you take a Dale Carnage course?  Maybe use your whole name.  We all know who I am.  As some of the city councilors pointed out Monday night if people are going to speak at least take responsibility for your thoughts and use your name.  If someone does not use their name their post really is pretty void of any substance.

As a parent I am only afraid of the water at the beach as far as pollutants, by humans contaminating by the way.  Summer in Maine 6 months is very funny, if any compromise should come about it should only be over July and August.  Anyone that lives by Willard not happy with their neighborhood should have done their homework before buying.  Any elected official running for re-election that wants to change the rules drastically at Willard won’t have my vote or respect.  This topic during these times are a sad symbol of our city council that should just bang the gavel and state this is how its been, this is how it is, and this how it will stay.

When I bought my house in South Portland I chose very carefully.  I did not buy a very cute house that was right next to a school because I did not want to hear kids being noisy.  I did not buy a house next to the airport for obvious reasons.  I did not buy a house right on a main street as I did not want to here traffic all the time.  I chose where I wanted to live, I did research and chose a really nice house in a fairly quiet area about a block from Willard Beach.  I am wondering why if you buy or build a house on a public beach you now decide there is a noise problem with dogs.  Also, for those who say dogs are running in their yard (and one man said in his house?) Shut your door...if I left my door open animals will come in, this includes wildlife.  I personally can’t stand cats, but they are all over my neighborhood, I keep my door shut. As for dogs in your yard, do what others do on regular public streets, put up a fence with a gate.  You bought a house on a PUBLIC BEACH!!!