AS a lifelong lover and carer of all creatures great and small, I was stricken with horror and grief when I learned a beloved family pet, a handsome golden retriever, had been fatally injured for straying into a field full of cows and their calves.

He was a gentle giant, aggression was not in his nature. All dog walkers said every home should have a “Barney”. He could have lain next to a calf and never have touched it.

Sadly, now four grandchildren and their mum will never forget the horrendous sight of finding Barney’s bloody and broken body, every tooth missing from his broken jaw. They are all traumatised.

Now, as with all sudden loss of life, starts the inquest, the ifs and the buts. There is a lesson to be learned from every situation in life. Many will say he was only a dog and regarding that, if more children were taught how to care for pets and were introduced to the joy of music the world would be a better, happier place.

Barbara Woodley, Danesmead, York.