SIR - As the owner of a Japanese Akita I feel sorry for people who have been bitten by an uncontrollable dog, but I feel it's not just the dog's fault but also its irresponsible owner.

I often see articles on so-called dangerous dogs, but any dog, big or small, can bite. It only seems to be certain dogs which get classed as savage.

My dog is seven and under control, living in a secure garden, and always walked on a lead. Yet people shout abuse while I am walking my under-control dog, while theirs are running loose around my dog's ankles.

It's unfair dogs like mine and similar breeds always receive bad press. It is sometimes the case that people buy this kind of dog and know nothing about them or how to look after them.

Most dogs involved in incidents are probably normal everyday household pets with irresponsible owners allowing them off leads enabling them to bite - hence getting the name dangerous dogs.

Most of these dogs are expensive, and usually kennel club registered, micro-chipped and very well looked after by caring owners - it is a minority that lets us down.

Leanne West, Bartle Lane, Great Horton