One of the main causes of irritation to everyone – including many dog owners – was fouling on our pitches. There is nothing worse than having to constantly look for dog poo to prevent Players & Supporters stepping or even falling into it.

Obviously it is the dog that does the poo but it is unfair to blame the canine population; it is the responsibility of the dog owner to ensure that the dog's mess is cleaned up. Although there are a great number of owners that do clear it up, there are still some people who feel it is unhygienic or not something they should have to do, however it is a real health hazard to leave it where it lies.

Health Risks
As well as being filthy, dog mess is also unhygienic and a health hazard. The danger caused by dog mess is greatly increased at a Rugby Club because dogs are most likely to be walked and therefore to also foul in areas where people play and train.

Dog mess can lead to Parvo, which is a potentially fatal disease which is transferred between dogs, but the key health issue with dog faeces is that it can lead to toxocariasis in humans.

Toxocariasis
Toxocariasis can cause serious illness, and can even lead to blindness. It is caused by a parasite, known as Toxocara Canis, also commonly referred to as Roundworm. The Toxocara Canis parasite lives in dogs’ digestive systems, and so dogs act as hosts for the parasite.

The parasites lay eggs, which are released via the infected dog’s faeces.
The eggs can remain active in the soil for many years, long after the dog mess has been washed away by the rain.
If the eggs are then ingested by someone, they may hatch into larvae and thus lead to toxocariasis. So, the person doesn’t necessarily have to pick up dog faeces in order to become infected – they could just be playing on a pitch which had dog faeces on it years ago and still contains active eggs.

What are the symptoms of toxocariasis?
The symptoms of toxocariasis can be particularly nasty. They can include seizures, stomach upsets, sore throats, breathing difficulties such as asthma, and eye problems. Typically it leads to a very red and painful eye and clouded vision, and this only usually happens in one eye. If it isn’t treated, it can lead to permanent blindness in the affected eye.

We take our responsibility towards Player Safety very seriously.
Please DO NOT let your dog on any grassed area at Kendal Rugby Club