I WAS angry and sad to read about the York cattery that must close because it apparently failed to come up to statutory minimum standards (October 17).

Dorothy Johnstone clearly loves cats and if people come back to her again and again with their pets from places as far away as Malton and Thirsk she must be doing a good job.

It is dreadful that safe and happy places for pets are closed simply because of standards dreamed up by bureaucrats which are financially out of reach of people who run them.

If pets are safe, clean, well fed and most of all, loved, then the people who care for them are fit to carry on.

The closure of the Moor Lane Boarding Centre, as well as causing real hardship to Mrs Johnstone, will obviously cause problems for pet owners who rely on her and trust her to look after their animals.

To be too rigid about rules and impose unrealistic measures on these small businesses is surely wrong and should simply not happen.

Heather Causnett,

Escrick Park Gardens,

Escrick, York.

Updated: 11:58 Monday, October 27, 2003