WE would like to make it clear that Animal SOS Sri Lanka has never spent a penny of charity funds importing a single street dog from Sri Lanka into the UK (Five dogs are beheaded after rabid puppy attack', Guardian, May 1).

The charity was formed last year with the sole purpose to help the desperate animals in Sri Lanka by acquiring a base, building a veterinary clinic in which to conduct a co-ordinated sterilisation and vaccination programme for street animals, to provide veterinary care to injured and sick strays, and to promote animal welfare education focused at the children.

We are also helping many other poor people and their pets.

The animals that were imported into the UK, including Milly, the pup who was sadly harbouring rabies, were sponsored by individuals, not Kim Cooling or our charity.

All the animals were vaccinated against rabies, blood tested and health checked by vets before a health certificate was issued in Sri Lanka.

There was never any risk to public health as the pup died in quarantine, and those who were nipped by the pup were all vaccinated against rabies.

All trips to Sri Lanka are self-funded and Kim Cooling, the president and founder member, has spent many years during her holidays rescuing and alleviating the suffering of the strays in Sri Lanka - all self-funded work.

The team also helps animals in this country.

Animal SOS Sri Lanka, animalsos-sl.com