SADLY, in his letter published in the Echo on Saturday, March 14, Cllr David Smith has, like his council officers, failed to understand the question and thus failed to respond to the issue being raised.

Caring Canines is fully conversant with the operation of dog control orders and supports the principles enshrined within them. The point which we have raised on a great number of occasions now is not whether these orders should be in place but why the crematorium superintendent does not exercise the discretion open to her in the very small number of cases when it would be appropriate for one of our Caring Canines dogs to be permitted access.

This is the practice in other crematoriums across the country and so far there has been no satisfactory explanation as to why Bournemouth is unable to behave with similar humanity.

Please would somebody answer the question?

SUE DENNETT, Caring Canines, Brook Road, Bournemouth