SIR – Is Mr Clarke (Letters, January 27) really unable to distinguish between horse, sheep, cattle and dog excrement?

I would point out that horses, sheep and cattle are kept in farmers’ secure fields, whereas dogs are walked on footpaths, verges and open land.

Of course, horses are ridden on highways, but if they foul, their excrement is fibrous, and which if outside my house, I willingly shovel up for my garden.

As far as dog mess washing away, it can take weeks, and in the meantime is regularly walked on by children. I have in fact walked it into my house on a dark night – not a pleasant experience.

One lady approached by my wife said: “I can’t think of anything more obnoxious than me cleaning up my dog’s excrement,” to which my wife replied: “I can, me cleaning it up!”

As far as the ridiculous comparison to litter; while I object to this, it’s far less obnoxious picking up and binning litter than clearing up after someone’s dog.

Having said all this, the vast majority of dog walkers do clean up and take away in our area, but I would have no hesitation in reporting anyone who didn’t.

Brian Jennings, Hawksworth Lane, Guiseley