HAVING read of the dog attack on the landlord (LET, June 26), a neighbour of mine had her cat ripped apart by a pit bull type on the loose on June 25, which her husband caught and held on to.

She tried to contact Darwen police station, but they were, as usual, "busy with other callers." This was about 3pm.

This seems to be the norm now in Darwen.

She then tried to contact Blackburn Police at Whitebirk and eventually gave up as no-one answered the phone. I tried, but had the same lack of success after trying for five minutes.

She then contacted Blackburn with Darwen Council who then contacted the dog warden who said he was not busy and came about 20 minutes later.

If this warden is employed by the council, is he patrolling the streets, as this dog problem is now getting out of hand.

The problem does not lie with the dogs, but their owners. It is only a matter of time before a child is attacked but, of course, as we know, it is then too late.

B KEARNEY, Darwen (by e-mail).