We want to be good neighbours

I’m sad the Citizen chose to put such an adversarial spin on the issue of DND banning dogs from the property between Alta Vista and Smyth. When our group of dog-owners contacted the paper, it was not to voice any sense of entitlement about access to the property. We hoped instead to express how much we appreciated the privilege of being allowed to share this beautiful and rare greenspace over the years.

We are just as disgusted as DND members about the behaviour of irresponsible dog owners who don’t scoop the poop — if not more so, since they reflect so poorly on the rest of us. In the two months since I’ve become a dog owner, during my walks I’ve got to know more people from the neighbouring homes, hospitals, retirement residences and workplaces than I had over the previous six years.

Access to the parkland has allowed us to build friendships, enjoy the healthy outdoors, and strengthen our sense of community and well-being.

We are ashamed that a few bad apples have spoiled the bunch, and hope that DND will let us prove our commitment to being good neighbours. Let us relieve you of the unfair (and costly) burden of patrolling and cleaning up this area. Many of us volunteer to take turns scouring the property systematically on a regular basis to pick up droppings and take to task dogwalkers who break the rules of common civility.

Together, we can turn this “conflict” into an opportunity to build bridges, rather than walls, between our communities. Why be enemies when we can be friends?

MICHèLE LAROSE, Ottawa