Many readers may have been disturbed by the recent TV programme exposing some very unprofessional methods used by a professional charity collection company on behalf of the RSPCA.

I would like to assure them that the local branch at the Patcham Animal Shelter raises all its funds through volunteers, never uses fundraising companies and that all the money goes to the shelter which cares for 3,000 animals a year.

We are a separately registered charity and responsible for finding every penny of our costs ourselves. We have had many calls about the programme from the public and hope that they are reassured that, with us, the animals come first.

-Frances Lindsay-Hills, chairwoman, Sussex, Brighton and East Grinstead branch, North Gardens, Brighton