THE English are supposed to be a nation of dog lovers, but that seems increasingly untrue nowadays. The foot and mouth crisis was accompanied by an epidemic of notices making a special point of banning or severely restricting dogs when they are no more likely to spread the disease than people, horses, cats, wild animals and birds.

A new outbreak of 'dogs-on-leads' notices has appeared all over Darwen Moors, for goodness sake -- because they might spoil the grouse shooting. (Wasn't it conflict with the grouse shooters that resulted in the declaration of freedom to roam those moors over a century ago?)

Dogs-on-leads notices are appearing round the Roddlesworth Reservoirs because they might spoil the fishing. And now we have Mr A Baker (Letters, August 9) complaining about 'bounding dogs' running about in Sunnyhurst Woods.

That's what healthy and happy dogs do, Mr Baker; they bound about and it is a joy to behold.

For their physical and mental health they need far more exercise than their owners and they need to be able to interact with other dogs. Dogs kept on leads all the time are likely to be miserable, obese, neurotic and often aggressive. It is cruel.

Reasonable council policy is generally that dogs should be 'kept under control,' but not necessarily on leads all the time, as long as they are well behaved. Human behaviour in places such as Sunnyhurst Woods can be far more concerning, with rowdiness, biking, litter, vandalism and even fear of assault.

ALEX HEEDE, Old School Lane, Tockholes, Darwen.