I AM writing to you following your article about new dog control orders for our nanny state. As far as I can see, the council cannot be bothered to enforce the orders and by-laws they already have, so new ones will be just as ineffective and useless. He

I AM writing to you following your article about new dog control orders for our nanny state.

As far as I can see, the council cannot be bothered to enforce the orders and by-laws they already have, so new ones will be just as ineffective and useless.

Here is why: last week, while my dog was with me on her lead in Regatta Meadows, another dog ran over to her and savaged her.

This other dog was not on a lead and clearly, therefore, not under control. The (very stupid and clueless) owner apologised profusely, which did not help particularly as my dog was quite badly bitten and terrified. I took my dog to the other owner's vet and put the not-inconsiderable treatment on her bill.

I then visited the local police station. Guess what - after taking a statement, the teenage PCSO advised me there was nothing they would do, but that I would probably have better luck with "the dog warden".

The warden duly rang me later that same day, and told me there was nothing she could do as "it had not done it before".

I pointed out that next time I get caught speeding, I am going to use her same argument, but I think it went over her head.

I subsequently discovered that the other dog actually had to be on a lead all the time, as she could not control it otherwise. I relayed this to the council - it went unanswered.

Finally, I read the by-laws at the entry to the park where it says dogs "must be restrained" and "must not be a nuisance". Again I rang the environmental health/dog warden, pointed out that this dog and owner were in contravention of their own by-laws. Again - guess what? They just cannot be bothered to respond, much less enforce their own by-laws.

Meanwhile, my dog has taken to shaking whenever she sees another dog, and cries when one gets near her. Her wounds will take several weeks to heal, and the only fun we get is watching her gaze vacantly at glitter lights after she has had her sedative.

However, the other dog has another chance (and it will take it now it has tasted blood), as the by-laws are not enforced. Why is that?

So what exactly is the point of the council trumpeting new by-laws when they are far too apathetic to enforce their current ones?

Mike Payne, Burns Court, Eaton Ford