Dogs are wonderful in so many different ways
Young people taking part in projects like this is important because they see a lot of negative media about terrorism and Islam but they do not see any positive stories for the public about Islam. It will also educate many that are currently unaware of the sacrifices made by the Muslim soldiers as they stood side by side with many other soldiers on the front line. George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton, former Archbishop of Canterbury Howard Wilkinson, former football manager Joe Mantegna, actor, Chris Noth, actor, Whoopi Goldberg, actress, Steve Zahn, actor, Kelly Sotherton, former heptathlete, IN reply to Mr Ian James’ letter entitled “If there are no dogs, there are no problems”.
Having had the honour of being a dog and cat owner for the past 20 years, I can assure you that I have never lost any sense of reason during this time.
During this period all the problems Mr James mentioned have happened at some point in time, yes even the biting.
One incident was many years ago when the milkman chased the kids around the front room and our German Shepherd thought he was attacking them and took the seat of his trousers off. Of course, apologies were issued at the time and he actually admitted it was his fault, but we did buy him a new pair of trousers.
A more serious incident this year involving my wife led me to have our Collie put to sleep. A decision I can inform you no dog owner takes lightly, even when you know they have done wrong and may do it again.
Of course there are irresponsible dog owners, which sadly give some dogs a bad name, but after nearly 30 years of working with the general public there are more irresponsible children owners who let their “little darlings” run free and wild in public places causing havoc, mainly with the excuse of they are high spirited or just a little excited.
A well socialised, trained dog will go through life without leaving a footprint, apart from its immediate human family, and what a footprint they leave!
Now we have a rescue greyhound, a wonderfully intellectual creature and veteran of over 170 races, they can teach us humans to live for the now and not the past or future, to enjoy what we have and not covet thy neighbour.
Do you ever pick up your paper or turn the TV and see the headlines, dog goes on rampage 24 dead, many injured or pack of dogs take butchers for ransom? No you don’t, sometimes all these sad incidents make you wonder if this planet Earth would be better off without us humans.
Dogs bring so much joy in the world to people who without their dog would have nothing.
They do jobs humans can’t do, sniff drugs, explosives, bodies, both alive or dead.
Ask any armed force or police dog handler how important their dog is to them, and so what we may talk to them, roll around on the floor with them, kiss them but why not?
They are our best friend and, READING the article on the farmhouse by the M62, one thing caught my attention.
The lady said that grass won’t grow there.
It makes me wonder what sheep are doing there. The sheep, too, must sometimes wonder that.
So grass won’t grow on those ravaged slopes. But trees will.
Read the website, Trees for Life, about the replanting of the Caledonian Forest in northern Scotland, which involves, as a pre-requisite, the removal of the sheep.
Such a program on our Pennines could, in time, create a great mixed forest stretching from Derbyshire to Scotland.
Roughly centred around the Pennine Way, it would be one of the great wildlife parks of Europe, within an hours drive of twenty million people.
A fair swap, do you not think, for the loss of the sheep?