A LARGE number of people of Abergavenny exercise their

right to keep a dog. To every right, there is a

corresponding duty.

Dog owners have the duty to take responsibility for their

pets in all respects. This includes their health, exercise,

feeding requirements and disposing of the resulting

excrement.

As we see from Douglas Edwards letter (August 14) there

are considerable costs involved in the latter if it were to

be supplied by the council. This should not be a burden

on the part of the community who neither keep or want

dogs. There should be a licence fee - maybe local one -

to cover the costs of disposing of dog excrement. Failing

this, responsible dog owners should form their own

association to provide and maintain facilities in the town

for disposal of dog excrement. This burden should not fall

on the whole population who have to put up with the

results of the irresponsibility of some dog owners.