Canine chums | Guardian stirs things up | Bravo, Pedro | Eurovision switch-off

When Lowry, my 14-year-old black labrador, died last July, fellow dog walkers gave me flowers, plants and even portraits of him. I was particularly pleased when they also gave me sympathy cards, because at last I knew their names (Letters, 8 March). Since then, when I have been out for lone walks, or have been in my front garden, I have been delighted when Pepper, Wilfred, Pippin and Peggy have dragged their still often anonymous owners to say “Hello” to me.
Nicola Campbell
Macclesfield, Cheshire

• Unlike your correspondent whose GP was reassured by the presence of a Guardian reader (Letters, 5 March), my own experience was less encouraging. As a student, I was dismissed from a summer job after just three days. When I asked the reason, I was told that reading the Guardian during my tea breaks was upsetting the other workers.
Ian Garner
Keighley, West Yorkshire