I was sad to hear on the news that 50 dogs had died in a fire at Manchester Dogs Home, 150 more rescued, some injured and traumatised.

Has anyone asked why there are so many dogs and other animals in so many shelters throughout the country?

I actually have an idea. First of all people buy on a whim with no thought of care or costs involved, many buy to breed to make money. Youngsters go for a tough image, hence so many staffies and Rottweilers who end up in rescue centres.

Why people who abuse animals get them is a mystery, unless that’s why they get them.

I rescued a staffie that was swapped for an X Box – this goes on a lot for mobiles etc. In 2016 microchips are to be compulsory, why wait so long?

Dogs are often out of control and children, adults and pets are injured.

I had my own rescue cat for 17 years who was lying in the garden when a husky snatched her and I could not get her out of the dog’s mouth.

I know many kind people have donated money to the Manchester shelter but it won’t undo the terror inflicted by the boy who did this.

I was very heartened to read Justin Tomlinson MP for South Swindon is trying to stop puppy farming. It’s just a pity he does not feel strongly enough to have voted against the inhumane badger cull.

Stephanie Giles, Bodiam Drive, Swindon