IT IS with great sadness that I write regarding your front page story about Robert Cope in last week’s Andover Advertiser.

I worked as the team leader for Dene Court Hostel for over two years from 2010 and during that time the hostel was proud of the fact that it was the one residence which would house vulnerable homeless adults who had a dog as their companion. The dog came too!

We were supported by TVBC Housing in this project and we worked with the dog warden and The Dogs Trust to provide training in care and wellbeing for all pets.

It was a great success. The majority of residents at the hostel enjoyed having pets around as it made it seem more like a caring home environment rather than an institutional hostel.

Both the TVBC and Two Saints organisation (who run Dene Court) used to acknowledge the importance for someone who is already at low ebb to have their dog with them, and the enormous value that such a pet gives to other individuals as well as their owner.

It is now apparent, through the attitude experienced by both Robert Cope and Daniel Knight recently that Two Saints have lost this element of care and compassion for individuals in distress and replaced it with a clinical approach which is prepared to heighten that distress by expecting them to abandon their pets.

Daniel Knight was eventually given a room at Dene Court with his dog. This was only after media coverage and emails to the CEO of Two Saints. Perhaps Mr Cope can be extended the same compassionate approach following the Andover Advertiser coverage of his plight.

MTS, Andover, Full name supplied