Mytoka Petry lost an arm and an ear when she walked near a homeless encampment July 15 and was attacked by a pack of dogs, (”Attack by pack of dogs leaves Portland woman fighting for her life: ‘She didn’t deserve this,’ " July 25). Homeless encampments are not simply an eyesore or nuisance - they are a public safety crisis of the highest order. How many more of us need to be mauled before our local governments do what must be done?

What would we have the county and city do? Govern. Protect us. We would have our elected officials do whatever it takes to ensure that we don’t get mauled by a pack of dogs while we’re taking a walk on a sunshiny day.

Hank Coates, Portland

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