I read Mary Shephard's tragic ordeal (Canine Red Tape and Slap Dash Justice, August 24) with shock, horror and an awful sense of déjà vu. Our justice system has, yet again, failed so miserably.

I went through the same nightmare when Sophi my pet Chihuahua cross was savagely attacked and mauled to death by a pit bull in May 2005. In October of that same year our case went to court and like Ms Shephard, the hearing was a farce - neither I, nor any of the witnesses were allowed to testify and the handler of the pit bull was fined Lm20.

Ironically, when Sophi's case was publicised, Ms Shephard wrote to The Times saying "The million dollar question is of course when will the government take action? When will the law be changed? How long do innocent pets and their owners have to suffer?"

How right she was! Who was to know that she and her beloved pet would go through the same thing as Sophi and I did.

I too do not believe that certain dogs are born fighting dogs and that it is certain people that train them to be that way. Which is why, when Sophi was killed, I started a campaign to muzzle "dangerous dogs" (or if "dangerous dogs" cannot be identified, then breeds of a certain size), and to impose heavier fines on irresponsible pet owners.

At the time, possibly due to all the hype that was generated and all the signatures we managed to obtain, a Member of Parliament promised to help amend the law but over a year later he is still procrastinating and nothing has been done.

How many more of these tragedies have to take place before something is finally done? How many more pets have to die this horrendous and painful death, how many pet owners have to suffer the same ordeal? Does a child have to be mauled before the government finally does something?

I believe that there are enough people out there to make a difference. I appeal to all of you who agree with muzzling to write to the local media, local councils and our Members of Parliament in the hope that someday this law will finally be passed and enforced.