I am thrilled that the Town of Fountain Hills has a dog park. What I am not thrilled about is that there are numerous people who decided that that dog park is too far away, and instead, choose to use Four Peaks Park as an off-leash dog park.

This is despite the fact that there are signs throughout reminding dog owners to pick up after their pet and to have a leash used at all times.

As a taxpayer, I am extremely perturbed that when I walk our 15- pound dog, we have to sometimes avoid the very park (of which I help pay through taxes), that is otherwise convenient and enjoyable.

I hope that if you are an offender of this, and you read this letter, you change your off-leash habits. Otherwise, I hope that the Sheriff’s Office makes a few extra passes around this area to catch the violators.

Many violators of this law say that their animal is trained. It may be, but it is first and foremost an animal, and you do not know how your animal may react in a particular situation. Far too many people have had their four-legged members of their families maimed or even worse because a dog owner did not feel they needed to use a dog leash.

Do you want your dog off a leash? Keep it in your home, in your fenced back yard, or at a designated park for off-leash dogs.