I too was extremely concerned about the young girl who begs around the Seven Dials area with her dog (Opinion, August 28). Having observed her in action I have since realised there's nothing to worry about.

Undoubtedly she loves her dog, though what exercise it gets sitting around for hours while she spouts her continual "spare any change" mantra, heaven knows.

She apparently lives in her car and makes a reasonable living from selling the Big Issue and begging, moving around as the mood takes her.

Having shifted the previous Big Issue seller in no uncertain terms from this prime spot, I feel she is not quite as pathetic and lost as she appears. In fact, she's probably better off than a lot of the pensioners who buy the Big Issue from her.

-Elizabeth Turner, Cromwell Road, Hove