Yet again I have read another disturbing article about a child being savaged by a dog.

Not only did this disturb me but the article described how the heat may have had something to do with the dog's actions.

On the day in question a stray dog passed by my house. It was a bull terrier.

At first I thought it belonged to a group of young women who were all pushing prams, but this seemed not to be the case and they said it had followed them from Crompton Lodges.

The dog was distressed, due to the heat, but was at this time still quite friendly, although cautious.

After a couple of attempts I managed to catch the dog and put a lead on it.

This is when I rang numerous people including the police, who said it was not their responsibility; the dog warden, who does not work weekends; the destitute animal centre, that was closed and gave no other contact; and the RSPCA, who said it was nothing to do with them.

I could not believe what I was hearing, nobody wanted to know.

The only advice I was given was to let the dog go, as I had done all I could, or to it to Bolton Central police station.

This breed of dog has had some bad publicity lately and nobody gave a damn and this incident could have turned into another tragedy similar to the one reported in the paper.

I noticed the comment at the end, that the matter was being investigated.

Why wait for this to happen?

In some cases prevention would surely be a better option. I realise the dog in the report was not a stray, but the outcome may have been the same.

In the end I reluctantly took the poor animal to the police station. I hope it was reunited with its owners as it was a beautiful dog.

Why are there no facilities when this happens.

I suggest that somebody takes responsibility with a 24 hour dog warden seven days a week for emergencies like this.

I thought the people listed above promoted the importance of the well being of animals.

Obviously not!

D A Hill

Stoneclough

Prestolee Village