Whats New
Dog fouling at Astley Park stinks
The problem
As you may know, the Rugby Club is experiencing an ongoing dog fouling problem at the sports pitch in Astley Park. The problem has now reached such a level that the club has had to interrupt matches so that dog faeces can be cleared from the pitch. Some matches during 2009 had to be postponed altogether due to the amount of dog faeces in the area.
As well as being a nuisance to the club and other local people who use Astley Park as a sports and recreational area, dog faeces can pose a risk to public health. Dog faeces can contain a parasitic worm called toxocara, which if transferred to humans can cause an illness called toxocariasis. Toxocariasis can take an ocular form which means that the worm larva becomes trapped in the eye which can cause visual impairment and in rare cases can lead to blindness.
The junior and senior members of the club who regularly train in Astley Park are more likely to come into contact with soil containing dog faeces due to the physical nature of rugby. Those people who fail to pick up after their dog in Torbay, and particularly in Astley Park, are placing members of the rugby club and the wider community at risk.
The message
Torbay Council and Brixham Rugby Club recognise that most dog owners are very responsible and do pick up after their pets, but a small minority of people choose to ignore the rules. The council and the club are encouraging all dog owners to bag their dog's mess and get rid of it safely using a red dog bin, or a standard litter bin.
We are also encouraging everyone who lives, works or uses any of the facilities in the area of Astley Park to report dog fouling offenders to Torbay Council. So far, Brixham College, Brixham Church of England Primary School and Brixham Swimming Club based at the Admiral Swimming Centre have all pledged their support to help raise awareness about dog fouling in Astley Park. You can show your support to tackle dog fouling by displaying an anti-fouling poster at your home/workplace/club which is available to download from www.torbay.gov.uk/dogfouling.
Anyone caught failing to pick up after their dog in Torbay may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice for £75. If someone chooses not to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice they may be fined up to £1000 in court for a dog fouling offence. Those dog owners that bag the mess but don't bin it (for example they dispose of the bag in a hedge, a tree or a garden and by doing so are littering) could face a maximum penalty of £2,500 in court.
Advice for players
Cases of toxocariasis are rare, but because rugby does involve regular contact with the ground, it is important to take steps to reduce the risks. After training junior and senior members should shower where possible. If you can't shower for any reason, wash your hands fully, particularly if you plan to eat soon after training. Keep a supply of hand santiser gel or wipes with you and if you feel unwell after training or matches, seek medical advice.
Can you help?
The council cannot effectively tackle environmental crimes like dog fouling without the help and support of local people. If you witness someone failing to pick up after their dog, particularly in and around the area of Astley Park, please report them in confidence to the council's Community Protection Team by phone 01803 208091, email community.protection@torbay.gov.uk or online at www.torbay.gov.uk/dogfouling.
Detailed information provided to the team can help the Dog Wardens target their patrols, with a greater chance of catching offenders. When reporting a dog fouling offender please think about the following:
· What day of the week did the offence take place?
· What time of the day did you see the offence happen?
· Where did the offence take place?
· What did the dog look like?
· What did the owner look like?
· If the dog owner was using a car, what were the registration details?
Dog fouling can be tackled by the whole community working together. A minority of dog owners think that they can get away with not picking up after their pet if a Dog Warden is not around, but as more and more people come forward to report offenders, irresponsible dog owners may start to think twice about their actions.
How to make a report
To report a dog fouling offender, contact the council's Community Protection Team with as many details as possible either by telephone 01803 208091 or email community.protection@torbay.gov.uk. You can also use the council's website by following the link to an online reporting system at www.torbay.gov.uk/dogfouling. Remember that the more information you can provide, the greater chance there is of offenders being caught.
Thank you from Torbay Council and Brixham Rugby Club