Dog Fouling Plagues Residents Near Stebonheath School.

Llanelli’s Stebonheath’s school is currently being plagued by the inconsiderate actions of dog owners according to local residents that are unwilling to clean up after their dogs.

Whilst it’s an attractive part of Llanelli and a desirable place to live the area is not without it’s problems such as inconsiderate parking, but this latest batch of dog mess has left residents fuming.

Concerns have been raised that young mothers with their children in pushchairs are forced to plough on through the dog mess or risk their safety by going out onto the road instead.

A local resident, Gary Glenister said:

‘…this morning took the biscuit, …with parents with small children and pushchairs being forced into the road near the roundabout.’

 ‘This is the third dog poo incident in as many weeks and parents have had enough.’

 ‘There has also been an amusing occurrence when there was poo on the dwarf wall on the junction with Palace Avenue.’

 ‘It is unbelievable that any reasonable human would consider it acceptable to let your dog poo on the pavement let alone near a school and on a regular basis.’

Inconsiderate Dog Owners!

Mr Glenister also referenced the fact that Cllr Jim Jones has recently raised the issue in the press, but sadly, this doesn’t seem to have changed the attitudes of these inconsiderate dog owners.’

He went on to say that he wasn’t criticising Jim Jones, ‘only despairing that people don’t listen to him!!

Mr Glenister has made Carmarthenshire County Council aware of the problem and has even suggested that they place a mobile CCTV unit in the area.

Mr Glenister said that he had ‘no complaint’ with Carmarthenshire County Council as their ‘enforcement officers can’t be everywhere’.

He went on to say that his complaint ‘is that someone thinks it’s acceptable to let their dog do it on a regular basis and not clean up after themselves.’

The Hidden Dangers of Dog Mess

Dog fouling is not only unhygienic and a health hazard. Dog fouling is unsightly, unpleasant and can lead to toxocariasis in humans.

Toxocariasis causes serious illness and even blindness.

It is caused by a parasite known as Toxocara Canis (also known as Roundworm). These parasites live in dogs’ digestive systems. Eggs are released in the faeces of infected animals and contaminated soil. If someone ingests infected material, the eggs may hatch into larvae and can lead to toxocariasis.

Toxocariasis usually affects children aged between one and four years. But cases of toxocariasis have been reported in people of all ages. Young children are most at risk because they are more likely to put things into their mouths and less likely to wash their hands properly.

Symptoms of toxocariasis can include seizures, breathing difficulties, a very red and painful eye, and clouded vision, usually only in one eye. Left untreated, toxocariasis can cause permanent loss of vision in the affected eye.  Toxocariasis can be controlled if dog faeces are disposed of immediately in a responsible manner.

Regular worming of dogs can help reduce the problem so concerned dog owners should ask their family vet for health and advice if they are unsure.  Always wash your hands after handling animals or soil and before touching food.

For those unsure with the law: 

Unless you are a registered ‘blind’ person with a guide dog, dog owners have a legal duty to clean up every time their dog messes in a public place.

Some kinds of public land are subject to exemptions though such as:

• Land used for agriculture or woodlands
• Rural common land
• Land that is predominantly marshland, moor or heath
• Highways with a speed limit of 50mph or more

Most local councils require dog owners to carry a poop scoop and disposable bag whenever they take their dogs out to a public place.

• Look out for bins marked as dog bins to dispose of your dog bag.
• If you cannot find a dog bin, then double wrap the dog bag and place it in a normal litter bin.
• If your street is littered with dog mess, you can ask your local council to clean it.

Councils now have more power to tackle public dog mess under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 which repealed the Dogs (Fouling of Land Act 1996).

Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 local councils and communities are able to create bye-laws relating to dog mess, but in the main councils can:

• Issue dog control orders against individual dog owners for offences including allowing a dog to foul a public space.
• Issue fixed penalty orders in relation to dog control orders. Where there is no local rate, the fixed penalty is £75.
• In very serious cases, magistrates can issue a maximum penalty of £1,000