REGARDING the letter (HAS, Jan 14) in which D Reed mentioned dogs off the lead chasing sheep.

Well, the same goes for dogs on beaches. Last year, I took my grandchildren down to Seaton Carew. I can’t remember the exact date it could have been. Dogs were allowed on the beach and it was a very sunny, warm day, so there were a lot of children playing too.

Two of my bairns had been playing in the small pools that were trapped in the sand, and two small, poodle-like dogs were running around loose. This scared the bairns and one ran away from the dog, which made it excited and it ran after him, biting his leg.

Whether it was just unfortunate or not, it drew blood.

When I confronted the elderly owners, all I heard was the usual, “my dog wouldn’t bite anyone”.

The elderly man did come and take a look, but he didn’t want to know. Elderly or not, he is lucky I didn’t deck the cheeky so and so.

I took the bairn to the walk-in medical centre, where the nurse sorted my grandson out.

I was asked if I had contacted the police, and I said no – it is not what we did when we were young, but she said it had to be reported, so she telephoned the police, and explained what had happened.

Later I received a call from the police to ask if I’d taken the elderly man’s details, when I said no, they said there was not a lot they could do in that case, thanked me for my time and said, with their description, all they could do is keep an eye out for him.

But why should it come to that. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind dogs on the beach, but irresponsible owners think their dogs take precedence over children.

If there are children on the beach, all dogs should be on leads.

The elderly man blamed the bairn for running away.

Lawrence A McGowan, Sherburn Village.