Last Sunday, while walking in open country in the Totteridge area, my dog lost sight of me among the trees, got himself impaled on barbed wire and, being in some distress, couldn't be freed unaided.

Fortunately, a couple walking their two dogs saw what had happened even before I did and offered their assistance. In the end, while I stayed comforting the dog, they walked some distance, to the nearest house, for a pair of shears which at last released the dog from his torment.

Having embraced the couple and expressed my heart-felt gratitude for all they did for my dog and me before we parted, I would if I may nevertheless like, inadequately, to do so here once again. Ironically, the incident occured close to the scene of another several years ago, involving a previous dog of mine. This eventually, following publicity in these columns, resulted in the eviction of a clay-pigeon shoot club from a designated 'public pleasure ground' on council-owned land to which the council's tenant had had no right to admit it in the first place.

The council subsequently, by way of compensation for its failure to make the area belatedly accessible to the public as promised after a public inquiry, opened up another public footpath, where the latest incident took place.

Happily, as my unknown helpers may be pleased to hear, neither of my two dogs were badly hurt.

Walter Grey

Arden Road, Finchley