SCARBOROUGH (AP) — The battle over whether unleashed dogs should be allowed on Scarborough’s town-run beaches is not over.

The town council earlier this month approved an ordinance that requires dogs to be leashed year-round on all town property after an unleashed dog killed a protected piping plover chick on Pine Point Beach in July. At the time, the dog was allowed to be unleashed.

The council on Wednesday voted against reconsidering the new ordinance.

But more than 2,700 residents have gathered a petition seeking a town-wide referendum to decide the issue.

The council changed the law in response to the threat of a $12,000 federal fine. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Scarborough has ignored repeated warnings about allowing unleashed dogs on town beaches during plover nesting season.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: