A plea to dog owners

With the new Vote Poll starting on Audlem Online last night (see previous story), we have received the following plea from one of the Audlem Saints' coaching team. He says:-

"With the current vote poll being "dog related" may I take the opportunity to get the attention of a few dog owners?

Every Saturday morning, a group of volunteer coaches put on football training sessions for Audlem's young footballers of all abilities. Unfortunately, the first task of the day is always to remove dog mess from the playing area. On the Saturday just gone, the coaches removed no fewer than nine different lots. In this day and age we all know of the severe health risk that dog mess poses."

"Dogs may deposit roundworm eggs (toxocara canis) in their faeces, which become infectious after about 3 weeks, and can remain so for up to 2 years.

Anyone, but particularly children playing near to the ground, can run the risk of picking up and swallowing the eggs. The eggs then hatch in the intestine, burrow through the intestine wall into the blood stream and pass into the body."

"The possible symptoms of toxocaral infection range from aches, dizziness and nausea to asthma and pneumonia, but as these symptoms can all be caused by other things, infections often go undiagnosed. In the UK there are around 100 cases of toxocariasis diagnosed each year. (source: www.public-health.com/"
www.public-health.com )

"In rare cases eye disease and loss of vision can be caused when the toxocara larva passes through the eye."

"If that's not enough incentive then please, out of simple common decency and politeness.. do not allow your dogs to foul the play areas in the village!"

A new Forum has started on the subject of dogs and will include this request. Click on Forum on the top horizontal bar to read any comments and perhaps add your own.

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