Woof treatment

I CAN’T entirely remember why I bothered to write that ‘dog lovers are incapable of human relationships’ (Letters). Something must have rankled with me regarding our society’s worship of canines.

I rather like dogs, but not to the absurd, cosseting level of some of my fellow humans.

On rural walks, unsupervised mutts often jump up at me in search of affection and food treats. When the owner arrives, they wrongly assume I am loving every minute of it.

I don’t agree with spoiling dogs — or children, come to that. But please calm down, people.

Mr M. Prentis, nottingham. I’M SURE owners do love their dogs, but they should not assume everyone else does. Many of us don’t want them sniffing round us and jumping up. We also don’t want them in pubs and restaurants.

David Rogers, Shrewsbury. RECENT letters extolling the virtues of dogs only reinforce Mr Prentis’s original point. Perhaps the only humans such dog lovers can relate to are other dog lovers.

All dogs are blindly loyal to whoever feeds and exercises them; their devotion is easily won.

Amanda Yates, newcastle upon tyne. I AM not a dog lover, in fact I am slightly scared of them.

However, having lost my husband, I decided after more than 40 years to downsize. There was a short gap between selling and buying when I stayed with my son and daughter-inlaw. Because of their work commitments, I spent several hours a day on my own with their two dogs.

Being emotionally and physically exhausted, and a bit scared of what was to come, I cried quite a lot. Every time I did, I would find two heads resting on my knees, with such sympathy in their eyes that it made me cry more. Truly touching.

While I will never be at one with dogs, I now fully understand their owners’ devotion to them and how it is reciprocated.

Sandie Lee, Crediton, Devon.