Bring back the dog licence

SIR - At long last Torridge Council is doing something about dogs. Eight out of 10 people I know clean up after their pets and have dog leads and collars. You can walk your dog almost anywhere, but it must be on a lead - that's the law of the land. You c

SIR - At long last Torridge Council is doing something about dogs. Eight out of 10 people I know clean up after their pets and have dog leads and collars.You can walk your dog almost anywhere, but it must be on a lead - that's the law of the land.You cannot go into a play area etc and rightly so. Dogs' mess is a health hazard. Let us not forget the young lady who lost her sight last year at Exeter. Is that what you want? Your children and grandchildren to lose their sight?The new dog laws have been on display outside the Town Hall. Please note Torridge already finances the dog wardens, A few �1,000 fines will soon put things right and they have video cameras.Let's bring back the dog licence. The fees would pay for dog bins, pooper scoopers, doggy bags, dog wardens on parade and regular emptying of the dog bins and all the problems would be solved.So let's give credit to TDC. If dog owners clean up and take their dogs walkies on a lead, the problem is solved and everyone will be happy. We won't be looking down all the time to dodge the dogs' mess. And if you love your pet, it will have a collar with its name and address just in case it gets lost. Finally, petitions will only count if everyone writes a letter and signs it. Thousands of votes on sheets of paper don't count any more, only as one protest.Mervyn W Sweet, Bideford.