On a recent Sunday morning, 7:15 a.m., I was training my eight-month- old springer pup Bree at our small local park.

We were working on retrieving and open field quartering when greeted by two officers from animal control. Having trained three dogs over two decades at this park I expected to hear some new park rules; instead I was immediately cited for a criminal charge of “dog at large.”

Asking for a warning ticket I promised that Bree would always be leashed. I was told this was a zero tolerance mandate from above. Stating that I thought this was horse manure I was deeded a threat and two Sheriff’s squads were called for backup.

Seeing a near 65-year- old man and his eight-month-old pup were no imminent threat, the officers were not called upon to use their weapons.

Watching Bree sit at perfect attention (no leash) for nearly 20 minutes that it took to fill out a one-page carbon copy form was a testament of the complete control Bree had of the situation.

I hope this letter might bring some sanity to the ludicrous way animal control is responding to harmless situations. I am trying two approaches to remedy this. 1.) Change the “zero tolerance” law and 2.) Educating animal control officers to ways of reasonably applying the present law.

Having spent several hours at Town Hall and on the phone I realized this may take some time and arm twisting. I hope Bree doesn’t grow fat and lazy in the meantime.