Come for walkies down our way — we love dogs
I sympathIse with simon heffer over the demise of the dog-friendly pub in his neck of the woods (mail). however, there are still places where dogs aren’t just accepted, but actively welcomed. here in our far-flung corner of Dorset, where the walking is wonderful and holidaymakers like to visit with their dogs, we run a pet-friendly guesthouse. Within 300 yards of our front door there are four dog-friendly pubs, all of which serve good food, and two excellent dog-friendly restaurants. slightly further away and in the local villages are many more. a good number of town shops sport a sign in their windows proclaiming that ‘dogs are welcome here’. there’s no reason why well-behaved dogs should not be allowed into any establishment serving or selling food. But it’s the dog owners’ responsibility to ensure that their pets don’t impinge on fellow customers’ enjoyment. If you want to check it out, come to swanage — Dorset’s dog-friendly resort.
LYN FEGAN, Swanage, Dorset. yes, dog owners, you should sit outside the pub in the cold if you bring your dog (mail). you aren’t allowed to take dogs (except guide dogs) into shops, so why should you be allowed to take them into pubs where food and drink is being served? I don’t dislike dogs and some of them are cute, but I’m allergic to them. Visiting a relation one sunday, a doctor had to be called out when I suffered an asthma attack because their pet spaniel was in the room. If a dog licks me, I come out in a rash and itch for a long time afterwards — and I know I’m not alone in having this problem. so no to dogs in pubs, or perhaps their owners would prefer me to sit outside in the cold with the smokers.
Mrs DAPHNE EMPSON,
Great Baddow, Essex.