Leonard Willcock (Life-saving Dog, April 10) is lucky to have a dog that shows the greatest affection for its master. But he should not confuse that with "responsibility".

The dog sensed that something was dreadfully wrong with her beloved master and did what it could to bring things back to normal, to see its master breathing normally. His choking sounds alerted it to the fact that things were not as they should be with him.

A dog has no rights or responsibilities. The dog could not be penalised if it had done nothing and Mr Willcock had choked to death. But if Mr Willcock's nurse (if he had one) had known of his condition and had neglected her duties and let him choke to death, that would have been a matter involving responsibility for which the nurse would have been accountable. In the case of dogs, this would be absurd.

This does not mean dogs should be treated badly. Not at all! Whereas dogs have no rights or responsibilities, their masters do. They have a right to keep dogs and a responsibility to treat them well.