I AM sorry to have upset people with my views on the waste of money and ‘affection’ on pets (14 million cats and dogs in this country) when in many parts of the world children are starving. One of your readers said she had seven dogs. Good lord! Another had a couple of cats, Monty and Oscar, who it seems can almost understand and write good English. ‘Take a look at your own disgusting habits before condoning us’ they said. Hmm. Can’t be right. But not bad. They are correct, though: I have not considered the indignity of being on a lead while going to the toilet. There is some sense in owning pets. With what appears to be the imminent collapse of democratic-capitalism we may well resort, as history shows, to making a meal out of pet animals. Seven dogs would keep you going for a while and if I were Monty and Oscar I would head for the woods. Mrs J Anderson, London Road, Andover.