Reading a letter published in the Opinion page last Wednesday about some dogs gone wild and attacking a child on a beach was indeed an eye opener.

As such horror stories unfold in our very land, the urgent need to address the situation without further delay surfaces. What we need is a Society for Preventing Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) a non-gvernment body to take care of animals and their other needs, at national level.

The SPCA just like in other countries would form animal shelters before the situation reaches horrifying proportions.

There are so many of us out here who need employment. There will be a host of others who will even join in voluntarily, if there is such a body in Brunei. A need for a shelter in each district as soon as possible, is of utmost importance. If we know about an animal that is injured or being treated cruelly, we should be able to call the SPCA's national 24-hour cruelty and advice line for assistance, just like we call the Fire Dept now to save animals in distress. Animals should have a place to eat, bathe and be taken care of. A vet should regularly visit the place or if it's possible there can be an in-house vet at each of the shelters.

The vets can monitor the health of these animals and give them the necessary vaccinations and stop them from having unwanted litters.

As Muslims we believe that all are God's creatures, not only those that we like and find pleasing to have around us.

We have been told that even the most unlikely and ugly things that nature has given us are here for a purpose. And being in a position to give shelter and a home for these most desperate creatures would be the most noble thing any one can do, in the face of a crisis. It's really sad to see how some animals, mostly cats and dogs are left to fend for themselves when their owners leave the country for good.

Some people enjoy the company and even the security given by their pets, while they are far from home and missing their families.

But some of those who have to leave, do so without so much as a backward glance at their pets. Hungry and betrayed the orphaned animals roam the streets looking for food and shelter. Another major factor that draws such strays to form packs is the scattering of rubbish in street corners.

We have so often seen in the newspaper as well as along the roads, uncleared rubbish waiting to be collected.

We also see people dump their rubbish almost anywhere they please, inviting the strays to form packs to scavenge it.

In their rush to get at food, some even get beaten and have stones thrown at by some cruel members of the public who would not understand the sorry state of the destitute.

People of various religions have their own interpretation of how to treat various species of animals. But as Muslims, we know loving kindness is the most important feeling that should surface when we come face to face with a desperate living thing. Giving care to the destitute is one of the most noble things, we as most intelligent of all beings could do to balance the situation.

- Hjh N A, KB

Toilet facilities at the National Stadium are in an appalling condition. Toilets and washrooms in the swimming pool complex, especially, are in a bad state.

Lack of maintenance has left water to stagnate on both men's and women's toilet floors - that one needs to hop around to avoid the pools of dirty water.

Toilets are the worst maintained of the lot. Most of them are not flushed properly resulting in an unbearable stench that pervades the whole washroom.

The washroom next to the swimming pool below ground level is a sad commentary of a public facility that is being used frequently by the public.

Adults and children are charged $2 and $1 respectively to use the pools but sadly the basic facilities that a swimming pool needs are sorely lacking at the National Stadium.

The total lack of hygiene puts the numerous children that come to the pool at risk.

Many people pass through the toilets, some invariably stepping on the pools of stagnated water, also unintentionally take all the germs to the swimming pool.

It's not just the swimming pool that should be kept clean but its surroundings as well.

- Frustrated Swimmer

Two weeks ago our daughter was attacked by three stray dogs on Tutong Beach.

Our daughter suffered significant injuries in the attack which has traumatised everyone in our family.

We would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the medical staff at RIPAS, particularly the surgeons who operated on her for six hours and have since monitored her progress and rehabilitation with compassion, interest and a high degree of medical expertise.

The attack raises the problem of stray dogs within Brunei. Dogs gather in packs wherever they sense a potential food supply, and so it is not uncommon to see them near supermarkets, scavenging through rubbish bins and wandering around our streets.

Because we are familiar with such sights we come to view these dogs as harmless or, worse still, domesticated. As we have discovered, this view is dangerous and erroneous.

These dogs are hungry and predatory - their instinct is to hunt. Small children are mostly at risk.

Despite the efforts of the Municipal Office of Tutong, the dogs that attacked our daughter are still alive.

We urge the government to consider ways of addressing the issue of stray dogs within the Sultanate.

In other countries, dog owners must register their pets which means that stray (or unregistered) dogs are routinely rounded up, sterilised or disposed of before they become a menace.

The number of stray dogs in the country seems to be on the increase.

By turning a blind eye, these dogs are left to roam, have litters and forage for food unchecked.

Our daughter could easily have died in this attack. It is our hope that something will be done about this problem before such a fatality occurs.

- Lynn Payne and Andrew Taylor

The Brunei Amateur Athletics Association had recently released a qualifying standard for participation in international meets with the last SEA Games 2003 result and comments on athletes' performance.

We would like to know based on what criteria was the standard was set?

1.Only two qualifying standards were created. One standard will be used for SEA Games and another for other international competitions.

Using one qualifying standard for all international competition is improper as every international championships can be categorised according to its level of competition. e.g. Asian Track and Field Championship are competed at a higher level than SEA Games, while another competition (e.g. BIMP-EAGA) is competed at a lower level.

Consequently, a qualifying standard has to be set accordingly to meet the level of each respective international competition.

With the respective qualifying standard, the new/lower category of athletes should be given opportunity to compete in lower-level competition in the region, while middle category of athletes compete in middle-level competition, and the elite athletes should be given priority to compete in higher-level competition.

Each category of athletes should be given an opportunity to compete in its respective class of international championship.

2. Standard set is not consistent between events. If the last 22nd SEA Games 2003 result is used as the basis for setting the qualifying standard for SEA Games 2005, it can be concluded that there is no consistency.

For instance, the time mark from the 7th rank is used to set the qualifying standard for 100 m women; while in 1,500 m men, a time mark which is far beyond the 1st rank is set as the qualifying standard.

3. Athletes being condemned because of age. It is true that there are athletes who are in their 30's. This should not mean they are not qualified to compete.

Currently, some of them are still among the best performers in their respective event. In an open competition, how can age be a criteria for competing.

There is no international rule, ruling that any athlete of age above 30 shall not be entitled to compete in an open championship. Is it not the results that matter the most?

4. An error by 2 seconds means a major difference in a fast track event, and especially when this is used to compare and evaluate an athlete performance. Why are the result for rank 7th and 8th in 1,500 m not revealed when time mark from the 8th rank should be used for selection of athletes?

With these current qualifying standards, it means no athlete is qualified to compete in any competition; neither SEA Games, nor any other international competition.

How has the association helped athletes to meet the qualifying standard when there is no support from the association?

Why are we not abiding by the decision of the Brunei National Olympic Council to use the mark set at the minimum of the 8th placing from the last SEA Games as the qualifying standard?

Except for one or two events/athletes, the current performance of other events/athletes may not meet the medal contention in the SEA Games.

So, what is the association doing at present to boost athletes motivation and performance and in developing athletics in Brunei?

All the years that I have been an athlete, I have never athletes getting any moral support.

In the past some athletes have been hurt and unmotivated and sadly it still goes on even to this day.

- Disheartened Athlete

Can anyone tell me where I can get information on the vital steps to start a business in Brunei?

Are there any brochures or books as guidelines?

I hear about the need to get a business licence, rampaian, labour license then employment permits, what else. What's the easiest/best route to take?

I think a book should be produced for people eager to start a business but don't know the steps. It should contain all kinds of businesses and the steps to go about opening business.

This would hopefully produce more entrepreneurs in Brunei.

- Would Be Entrepreneur

Bus ride to UBD

Next month UBD begins a new semester.

Students would really appreciate it if there is a regular bus service, that caters not only for the local but also for foreign students as well.

We also hope the bus services involved would have a regular time table that we students can follow.

- Rain & Sun

My and husband and I are retired citizens. We started a small business in town hoping to be on our own while waiting for our children to grow up.

But our Labour licence took 10 months to get renewed.

After many months of waiting and chasing, we finally got our renewed licence.

Now the problem starts again.

As everyone knows, you need to renew your workers' permit once your licence is renewed.

Now we are facing the same problem, we have submitted our application for renewal of workers two months ago, and we are still waiting, and the reason is the same - missing file.

Should I report this to the Commissioner or The Anti Corruption Bureau?

I am so fed up with this chasing that I intend to close my business once and for all.

But my point is, why are these employees, not doing their job in a more professional manner?

- Victimised SME