AFTER having a serious encounter with an out of control (Ridgeback crossbreed) dog on Gibbet Hill recently I was drawn to Lindsay Turpin's article 'Should hounds be on leads?' (Times, January 22). Although I have not looked at the DCOs to see what conditions are imposed or who would bring actions against non-compliance of such; I assume everyone has a duty of care with dogs wherever they may be? For individual councils to waiver one way or another in fear of being seen to be foolish is indeed foolish. We appoint councillors hoping they will manage our affairs in an unbiased way. With reference to Cllr Sherrell's comments about the hunt being a strong tradition which goes back hundreds of years; as with a lot of issues, times have changed and we have changed with them. Is it not time for the hunt to re-evaluate how they operate in line with the way the countryside is being used; especially with reference to uncontrolled hounds running wild amongst the countryside and most importantly on our public highways? To me, the most important aspect in the whole affair is the mention that the hounds involved are working dogs, thus, are exempt from such orders. If indeed fox hunting were to be legal, then one could say, that these animals could be classed as working dogs! I understand that the hunt now undertakes drag hunting in lieu of fox hunting. Surely this is a sport/pastime and therefore in no sense they can be classed as working dogs, thus, they should be covered by DCOs? Any council classing the hounds as working dogs would surely be open to criticism of supporting illegal activities? John J Kaczanow Mary Tavy WITH regard to the item in last week's Times regarding keeping hounds on leads, I could not believe that anyone could express such a stupid view. I was unable to attend the Boxing Day meet this year — a colourful spectacle — but I have always known it to be very crowded. It could not have been a very happy experience for those dogs on leads with spectators being rather squashed amongst such a lot of people. I doubt that a hound would attack another dog whereas some breeds of dogs can be quite vicious and need to be on a lead wherever they are — preferably not taken to a crowded place. Fortunately, some councillors rightly express the view that hounds on leads at a Boxing Day meet would indeed be getting into the realms of ridiculousness. L M Thomas Tavistock