[West Ender]

The latest news on the dogs impounded in St Helens and Widnes says that one had cropped ears - "a sure sign that it's been used for fighting"! I don't know a lot about dog-fighting in this country but I do know that, in America, ear-cropping (which I, personally, deplore) is quite fashionable, especially in pitbulls. For some reason the Americans treat it like we treat tail-docking (which I also deplore) and it's not a practice confined to aggressive dogs - have a close look at Scooby-Doo, he's a Great Dane with cropped ears.

The death of this poor child is terrible but, as usual, the reaction is way over the top and isn't addressing the real problem. I've had dogs all my life but I still think dog-ownership is far too easy and far too lax. It's owners who need to be controlled and it doesn't matter what the breed of dog is. You could make a Poodle into a vicious killer if you're that way inclined.