'One of our players almost lost a foot': Newport Rugby Club joins anti dog fouling campaign
Dog mess almost cost a rugby player his foot which is one of the reasons why a Shropshire rugby club is appealing to owners to clean up after their pooches.
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Newport Rugby Club has joined a Telford & Wrekin Council campaign to persuade dog owners to do the right thing.
Dog faeces can include bacteria and parasites that are harmful to humans, particularly young children as their immune systems are not fully developed. Dogs can deposit roundworm eggs known as Toxocara canis in their faeces.
Jonny Stiles, who played for Newport Rugby Club, spent six days in hospital in 2015 after a small cut on his foot became infected from dog mess left on the field during a match.
Although emergency surgery was able to save Mr Stiles' foot, the hten 29-year-old was left with a permanent scar and circulation problems.
Now the club has agreed to share its message with Telford & Wrekin Council, saying that officials, who are volunteers, spend 10-15 minutes cleaning up mess from where children play the game.
The club is keen to welcome everybody to the ground but want visitors to be respectful.
The council is running a campaign called Our Clean Home which hopes to persuade people to see the outdoors as an extension of their indoors. The club is making poo bags available for free to visitors.
A spokesperson for Telford & Wrekin Council wants people walking their dog near a football or rugby pitch, to please do not leave its mess behind.
They also have a confidential hotline for others to tell the council who is leaving dog mess behind on a hotline number 01952 388 800
They can report it to get it cleared up,by using the MyTelford app
Residents can also fill in a survey to tell the council about the problem in their area.
