Letters to the Editor

Town needs a leash law

To the Editor:

There was a near-tragedy at Old Town Hall Houses last Sunday night to wake us up to the fact that dogs should be leashed when they are away from their own homes.

The quiet of the late hour was shattered by the desperate, terrified cries of a small, securely leashed dog belonging to one of the residents, out for a late evening constitutional. He was attacked by a large, bad-tempered, unleashed retriever. The devastated resident was struggling to rescue his pet. Finally the owner of the attacking dog, who was accompanying several other large, unleashed dogs, managed to call the aggressive animal off, but not before the little fellow was bleeding badly in the area around his ear. Later examination by a veterinarian exposed very serious puncture wounds, perilously close to the spine, and could have proved fatal. Fortunately, it did not.

Anyone who has, or ever has had, a beloved pet companion knows the pain and heartbreak when that pet becomes ill or is hurt seriously, especially as in this case.

Had the aggressive dog been leashed appropriately, this would not have happened! Most people do control their dogs. I see it all the time, but this time, there were four unleashed animals, and one of them attacked. Several neighbors came out to help, but to my knowledge, the owner of the big dog made no apology, nor offered assistance, only took the dogs home.

In a chance conversation on Monday, I was given to understand there either is or was or had been one. If that's the case, it should be reinstated and enforced. This is something that should not involve politics, parties or personal preference. It involves kindness, consideration and a simple way to prevent such incidents. Oh, did I mention love?

Arden Anderson-Broecking

Old Town Hall Houses

Darien

Household Hazardous Waste Day Saturday

To the Editor:

The Household Hazardous Waste Day is this Saturday, June 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Noroton Heights Railroad Station. A list of acceptable and non-acceptable items is available on the town webpage under the Department of Public Works. There is also a list there of the towns having HHW Days in which Darien residents can participate should they not be able to make this week's event.

Connie Melvin, Chairman

Darien Environmental Group

Pleased with

Convention's selection

To the Editor:

This weekend I was proud to be a delegate to the Republican Convention in Hartford, where the focus on fiscal responsibility, commitment to small business, and the limited role of government was palpable. With many excellent candidates to choose from, I was especially pleased that the delegates chose two-term State Sen. Dan Debicella, a Shelton native, as the nominee for the 4th District Congressional seat by an overwhelming 77 percent of the vote, including the near unanimous support of the Darien delegation.

Mr. Debicella's background reflects the classic upward mobility and the possibilities that hard work yield that is typical of our country: The son of a policeman and a secretary, he was the first member of his family to attend college. He worked his way through Wharton and Harvard Business School and went on to run a business of his own and do a stint at McKinsey & Company before being elected to the Connecticut Senate. There he has earned a reputation as fiscal conservative who has co-authored a "no tax increase" budget in both 2007 and 2009.

While his record is impressive and his accomplishments reflect a determination to work hard, what impresses me most about Mr. Debicella, a man of integrity and vision, is that he is one of the most intelligent and well prepared candidates I have seen in my nearly thirty years of working on campaigns, working on Capitol Hill and watching politics closely. Mr. Debicella's positions are founded on real understanding of the issues, and having done his homework about what needs to be done in Washington, Mr. Debicella brings understanding, experience and dedication to the table like no other candidate in the Fourth District -- on either side of the aisle -- can.

Mr. Debicella won't be a rubber stamp for either party. If more Republicans had taken on their own leadership with respect to earmarks and other matters over the past 10 years, the country would be in better shape. As Mr. Debicella often says, the people of the Fourth District "don't like rubber-stamp politicians. They want people who think for themselves."

Dan Debicella will be a fiscally responsible, intelligent and conscientious representative to Washington -- someone we will all be proud of.

Gwendolyn van Paasschen

Darien