I am saddened by the quotes in the article about dog leash enforcement in the April 19 issue of The Leader.

As the companion for two 10-month-old Lab pups I have committed to raise, my task is made challenging by people who seem to value only the rights of humans to become good neighbors through socializing, making mistakes, and learning.

I walk and train my pups on a trail near my home where I rarely run into other humans.

One story: I was working to help my dogs adjust to a leash and to come when called off-leash. I encountered a man who said something similar to Matt Tyler’s comment: “I see a dog at large …it’s 911 for me.”

He proceeded to explain his position. I listened. When he finished, I said, “I understand what you’re saying. Will you listen to my story?” He answered, “No, you have nothing to say that’s relevant.”

I’m not saying there should be no leash law.

A law enforcement officer for 10 years, I understand the law. However, enforcing the law is a final act, not the first. A reasonable assessment of extenuating circumstances, and under most circumstances, dialogue and compassion, should come first. It may be assumed that I hold an interpretativist theory about the law, that the law is best interpreted by the social, moral and political practices of a community.

Are the comments stated in the article by the Parks and Rec Advisory Board representative of our Port Townsend community? More signs, “larger signs,” adding information to the signs about how to “report violators,” banning dogs from the parks and hiring more animal control officers are one-sided solutions that lack vision and, therefore, are doomed to fail.

As someone who works in conflict resolution for a living, I know.

SARAH ZALE

Port Townsend