THE letter from Mr S. Butterworth (Your Letters, June 11) concerning the injured dog raises a number of issues.

It is extremely regrettable that Mr Butterworth was unable to get help for the dog, but he should not have been told to contact the RSPCA in the first place.

Stray dogs and dogs on the highway, whether healthy or injured, are legally the responsibility of the local authority dog wardens and the police.

This is set down in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and both bodies receive government funding for this service.

The police officer Mr Butterworth spoke to should have made arrangements for the injured dog to receive veterinary treatment or be collected by Manchester Home for Lost Dogs, with whom the police have a contract.

However, Mr Butterworth was told to contact the RSPCA and, unfortunately, he could not get through straight away. The society's national cruelty hotline receives a call every 20 seconds, and the number of calls rises dramatically every year.

The North West call centre dealt with 178,000 calls in 1998, an increase of almost one-third on the previous year.

The RSPCA, which receives no state funding, recognises that the welfare of the injured animal is paramount and will therefore take whatever action is possible.

The cruelty hotline 08705 555999 is not a premium rate line and calls are charged at the national rate.

The RSPCA does not make any money from it.

LISA DEWHURST,

regional press officer,

RSPCA.

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