As a proud doggy person for all of my 47 years, I would like to stand up for what is becoming an increasingly persecuted minority.
Unlike humans, as many of us have found out to our cost, dogs offer unqualified love and companionship for life and should not be attacked for doing what has to come naturally.
It is not the fault of the unreasoning pet if he defecates on the pavement in front of somebody's front gate.
The responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders of the owner.
He or she should, without hesitation, clean up.
And in my experience, meeting the same group of dog owners each day on my regular walk around Standish, the vast majority of us do do just that without the need for the threat of a fine
Now we find a councillor calling for the Metro to start their own "surveillance" operations to prosecute dog owners whose pets are caught short.
A decade or so ago I remember the late Mayor of Wigan, Coun Pye, a dog lover himself, launching his own 'poop scoop' campaign and dishing out bags to all and sundry.
Sadly for Ken's memory, the council have completely failed to honour their side of the bargain.
I meet owners on a daily basis walking along carrying, at arms length, bags of dog mess.
That is because the Metro haven't, to the best of my knowledge, installed a single dog waste bin for them to deposit it cleanly and legally into.
That is most certainly the case in Standish, I can say with some certainty.
This unedifying spectacle is undoubtedly contributing to some errant owners failing to clean up after their pets.
We, thankfully in my opinion, remain a nation of dog lovers.
And no amount of council threats of fines or prosecution is ever going to significantly change this situation.
But with a bit more help from the Metro we could certainly become a nation of dog lovers able to act even more responsibly.
Doggy fan,
Standish

Central Park snub still remembered
I remember well being told when I started my working life to "remember those when you are on the way up for you might pass them on the way down".
I found this especially true losing my job during the Thatcher years, and people I knew who helped in the workplace were there for me in my time of need.
Could this be the reason for the animosity especially among the older generation (which has been passed down to their offspring) that exists between the two clubs in this town, namely the refusal of Wigan Rugby to let Latics play at Central Park when drawn at home in the League Cup to Liverpool.
Wigan Rugby were the big boys then and Latics the small fry.
At that time I remember that due to safety reasons given by the local council, Springfield Park did not have the capacity to hold such a game.
Mr Lindsay, then chairman of the rugby club, was not receptive to the idea, he gave the impression football was infringing into the rugby domain. Funny how things work out, is he not now a director of Latics?
I know the refusal to not allow the Latics to play at Central Park hurt the supporters greatly, Latics having to play both ties at Anfield and even today that snub has not been forgotten.
It is in the interest of both clubs to grow side by side for the benefit of the town, but while Latics are in the Premiership the limelight will shine their way, it must do by virtue of it being the best league in the world, a global game and the vast amounts of money which promotes the sport.
Wigan Athletic's name since their entry in the Premier League is now known all over the world.
There is not a town or city in this country, where the soccer team with Premiership status does not reign supreme.
When the time comes that Latics drop down from the Premiership then, and only then, will the rugby come to the fore.
Let me add that I wish the Warriors all the best in all their endeavours.
A Wigan supporter,
address supplied.

Praise for police after burglary
I would like to draw your attention to the role played by the police after my father was burgled.
The police come in for many negative comments these days, my recent experience is only of positives.
One night my 86-year-old father was burgled by someone breaking the bathroom window, climbing in, entering his bedroom and would have got away with his wallet and house keys had he not been disturbed by my father, whose shouts caused him to drop them in his haste to get out.
On reporting this incident to the police within half an hour we had a visit from an officer from Bamfurlong station, who spent a good one and a half hours with us, taking statements and discussing security.
He could not have been more helpful and arranged for scene of crime to visit next morning, this was followed up by visits from various community officers who offered advise and support in helping my father overcome his ordeal, and help prevent a further occurrence.
In summary, the police could not have done any more to help or console my father and I can not praise their efforts enough.
Gary Such
Address supplied

Thanks for a great night
I wanted to say a big thank you to all the people who made the charity fund-raiser held in my honour on Friday such a success.
Huge thanks must go to Wigan St Patrick's, Ince Rose Bridge, The Klang and everyone else who was involved in running and arranging the night. It was a fantastic night and really successful, I am so grateful to everyone who helped out.
The band were brilliant, the food was superb and the money raised, a fantastic total of £1,700, will be a great help over the coming months.
I learnt today that I may have to have two operations to repair my damaged cruciate ligament and could be off work for a while yet.
Thanks again to everyone who helped out,
Mike Nicholls
Wigan St Patrick's under 18s prop
Eavesgreen Road
Chorley