I refer to the letter ‘Man’s best friend’ by Alfred Gauci (December 19).

The correspondent asked why dogs disturb Muslims. Nowhere in the Koran are dogs mentioned as evil beings. Today’s (Muslim) youth hardly care about what religion says about dogs, though the older ones still believe in myths. If, for example, a dog passes by during prayers it is said that the Muslim will no longer be pure. If a Muslim is touched by a dog’s nose he has to wash his hands seven times.

A long time ago they used dogs for the protection of their sheep and goats. They also used dogs as scavengers to keep the city clean, until they had an outbreak of diseases like cholera, the plague and malaria. It was then that their attitude to dogs changed.