I was incensed at Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Yeo's decision to have Bruce destroyed, like a piece of equipment. The man obviously has no feelings for animals.

The dog should have been taken out of service and kept as a muzzled pet.

Emotional feelings apart, what is this costing the taxpayer? I have just had an 11 per cent increase in my council tax.

Am I paying for police dogs to be trained only to be put down when they do their job?

I think this opens the floodgates for any future criminal who is apprehended by a police dog to then insist it be put down for attacking him.

I do hope the family of the errant boy who caused this problem in the first place are very happy with themselves. Are they also being made accountable for their son's behaviour?

-Carole Belton, carolebelton@ukonline.co.uk