THIS morning in Rowntree Park, I passed three women walking together with three bull terriers or some other aggressive-looking dogs. Two were on leads, one not.

I politely asked the owner (a grandmother, she later informed me) of the loose dog to attach a lead, fully expecting the response that I immediately got, namely a torrent of violent abuse and swearing.

I have young children, I calmly explained, and, as the numerous signs at the park’s entrance indicate, there is a bye-law specifically requiring all dogs to be kept on a lead.

Instead of rationally trying to convince people, whose response I have noticed at being asked to leash their dog is usually correlated in aggressiveness with the visual fierceness of their dog, I wouldmerely request that they obey the law, which is unequivocal, there to protect children and wildlife.

My good friend’s daughter was tragically scarred for life following an attack by a small but unleashed dog that had grown up surrounded by children and never hurt a fly until then.

Please leash your dog where required to do so.

Simon Gleadall, York.