SOME of your readers might have been shocked by the findings of a recent survey commissioned on behalf of Dogs Trust, which revealed the extent of the stray dog problem in this country. Our survey found that 150 stray dogs are put to sleep by local authorities every week, and that almost 300 dogs are lost or abandoned every day. In the South West region alone, nearly 4,000 stray dogs were collected by dog wardens, representing a rise of 7 per cent from the previous year. In addition, the number of dogs put to sleep by local authorities rose by 13% in the region. At Dogs Trust we believe that prevention is better than cure and are urging readers that the most effective and humane way of reducing the stray dog numbers in the long term is best achieved through neutering. It?s a simple painless procedure that also has great health benefits for dogs. Neutering can help protect against certain types of cancer, such as womb cancer in bitches and testicular cancer in males. Having a bitch spayed will put an end to packs of dogs following her around in season and it can stop male dogs from wandering off looking for romance! Most importantly it prevents unwanted litters of puppies. In addition to the legal requirement for a collar and tag, we also urge readers to have their dogs microchipped, which again is a very simple, safe and painless procedure that can be performed by a vet, so that if your dog becomes lost or goes straying, a happy reunion is much more likely. It is also very important to remember that if you move home you must remember to update your dog?s microchip details. Fact sheets are available on our website with further information on responsible dog ownership which includes neutering and microchipping, these can be found at http://www.dogstrust.org.uk">www.dogstrust.org.uk We appeal to your readers to help us tackle the stray dog problem, and help us protect thousands of dogs from pointless suffering and unnecessary death. Claire Duke Dogs Trust