In regard to the letter from Newton Aycliffe Youth Football Club in last week’s Newton News, Great Aycliffe Town Council accept and share the clubs concerns in regard to dogs using the sports pitches at the Oakleaf and across the town.
Whilst the Council accept that most dog owners are responsible and clear up after their dogs, there is a minority who do not. In addition, it is impossible to bag all the waste and some residue can be left on site, which could be harbouring dangerous diseases such as toxicariasis.
Playing football inevitably results players heading, catching and kicking the ball, this is extremely unpleasant when the ball has been contaminated with dogs faecal matter.
The Council will therefore be placing advisory signage in the vicinity of all sports playing fields managed by the Town Council at the Oakleaf, Moore Lane and Simpasture Parks. The signs will ask that dogs are not exercised on the actual sports pitches and so should be kept under control in the vicinity. Further to this the Council will step up patrols to advise users of this decision and will encourage dog walkers to exercise their dogs in more appropriate locations.
More about Toxocariasis
The Council is occasionally asked why there are laws in regard to dogs fouling public areas but no other animals. The simple answer is Toxocariasis.
Toxicariasis can cause serious illness and even lead to blindness. The disease can affect everyone but children are particularly susceptible. It is caused by a parasite commonly known as Roundworm. The parasite lives in dogs’ digestive system and is released via the infected dogs’ faecal matter.
The eggs remain active in the soil long after the rain has washed away all traces of the waste. There is therefore the potential that a child can ingest the eggs and tract the disease by simply coming into contact with the grass/soil where an infected dog has deposited its business many months or years previously.
Steven Cooper, Environmnetal Officer GATC
