REGARDING your report about council officials claiming they were 'duped' into reuniting Barbara McVety with her pet (LET, April 2).

As a dog owner myself, I can't believe anyone could possibly consider it acceptable to leave a dog for three hours tied up anywhere. Why didn't she simply leave him at home?

Pets depend upon us as their owners to treat them with respect and take responsibility for them.

JENNIFER WALSH, Greenway Street, Darwen.