Is it just me or are there other dog owners out there who are sick of this spate of letters to the Cornish Times accusing us of being irresponsible because we walk our dogs off the lead?

To my mind, the irresponsible ones are the people who take an active animal whose natural instinct is to run, swim, forage in the undergrowth, chase butterflies, play with other dogs etc and never let them move at faster than a walking pace or more than two feet away from their side.

I assume that these people are either incredibly fit and are able to run with their dogs so they get suitable exercise, or that their dogs are unfit, obese, arthritic and – from the aggressive behaviour I seem to encounter far more often from dogs on the lead than off – stressed and/or depressed.

I would no more walk my dog exclusively on a lead than I would take my ten- and 11-year-old sons out to play attached to a two-foot-long piece of string and never let them move faster than a walking pace.

I don't walk my dog in places where I am likely to encounter children or livestock (there are plenty of beautiful places in South East Cornwall that fit this description) and I always pick up after her.

And, in response to last week's anonymous letter writer, yes, I do walk my dog at Golitha Falls – and I do let her off the lead so that she can have a wonderful time scrambling on the rocks and playing chase with other dogs she meets.

I only go there during school hours so that I am unlikely to meet children.

If I do see children approaching (or if I see anyone in a wheelchair), I put her on the lead until they have passed.

I really resent repeatedly being labelled irresponsible and I'm sure the many people whose delightful dogs mine plays with out on walks feel the same way.

Sally

Daulton

(and her healthy,

happy friend Pippin)

Liskeard