To all dog owners who believe the entire Island, including the recycle center and Mercerdale Park, are off-leash areas for your dogs, they are not. A check of the city Web site will provide you with information on the two off-leash areas at Luther Burbank and Wildwood Parks, as well as the off-leash requirements. A frightening experience this week with a large, off-leash dog at the recycle center (and the ignorant owner, who was at the other side of the park, nowhere near the dog) prompts my letter today. Please leash your dogs so those of us who visit the recycle center and other parks are not subject to uncontrolled dogs. Many folks are afraid of dogs, having had unpleasant experiences, and can choose to avoid the off-leash parks. I find most dog owners cooperative, albeit ignorant of the law, when I ask them to leash their dogs. Only a few have been as downright rude and unruly as their dogs. Dog owners, your observance of the laws and park protocol would be greatly appreciated.

Roxanne Navrides