I have been studying in Brighton for nine months. Before I came to England, I had heard that English people love dogs but I am still surprised by what I have found.

Firstly, you can take your dogs on to a bus. In Japan you can't - except for guide dogs.

The other day it was raining. A man got on the bus with his big, wet dog and sat behind me. It was impossible to move away and my jeans were soiled by it. In addition, the smell was awful!

Secondly, I often see dogs without leads in pubs. I don't hate dogs but I'm a bit scared of big ones because of a nasty childhood experience. I'm sure I'm not the only person to feel like this.

Finally, I would like to lie in a park without worrying about dog droppings.

I have seen a lot of dog mess on the streets and in Brighton's parks. In my opinion, if you love animals and feed them, you should take care of their droppings as well.

-Asako Shinoda, Japan