Dear Residents and visitors
I have recently had reports and complaints about dog poop in the Children’s play areas at both the Recreation Ground and Bury Road. Not only is dog mess unpleasant, but it is also a human health hazard. Please do not take your dogs into these areas – they are for children.
Dog faeces can contain the eggs of the Toxocara worm -a type of roundworm.
Humans can become infected by accidentally ingesting worm eggs or by eating food that is contaminated with soil containing the eggs. One of the major forms of toxocariasis (the condition the Toxocara worm can cause) is damage to the eye – reducing vision and in some cases causing blindness.
Children are at higher risk of contracting toxocariasis as they are more likely to come into contact with soil or sand that contains the faeces. Cases of toxocariasis have also been found in sportspeople where dog faeces have been left on recreational play areas and sports pitches.
The majority of dog owners and handlers are responsible and pick up after their dog’s done its business, but it’s the careless few that fail to pick it up that give dogs and their owners a bad reputation.
The parish does supply dog waste bags at the entrances onto the Recreation Ground from the car park at the Memorial Social Centre in case you happen to have forgotten to take a bag with you.