ON September 9, walking from Alumhurst Road, Westbourne with my dogs I decided to take them to Branksome Woods via Western Road. Turned out to be nice and sunny and very quiet. Just before the tennis courts I looked back and could see a couple. I didn’t think any more until they shouted at me to control my dogs. I asked what they had done. While putting their leads on the answer was “I don’t like animals, they should be put to sleep”, while kicking my rescue dog in the body and saying the walk at Branksome was for humans.

Staffies have a bad name as it is with young children, or adults for status reasons and badly treating them. What gives this 70 plus year old couple the right to be like this? Very disturbing and upsetting for anyone to have to endure, and on a dog walk or indeed any walk.

L GRIFFITHS, Alumhurst Road, Westbourne