Eight kilos of dog poo has been cleared from a West Sussex beauty spot in one morning.
Worthing borough councillor Vicki Wells (Lab, Marine), who is also cabinet member for the environment, says volunteers picked up eight kilos of dog poo from Shepherds Mead, near Cissbury Ring, on Saturday (November 12) – about the same weight as an average Bichon Frisé.
In a Twitter post, the councillor said dog waste was ‘littering bushes and pathways’ with some found bagged up and left behind.
Cissbury Ring is a National Trust site and scheduled monument located near Findon.
It is one of the largest hill forts in Europe and has a history dating back over 5,000 years.
Graeme Brooker, a park ranger at Adur and Worthing Councils, has warned how harmful dog waste can be to both livestock and humans.
“The majority of dog owners are unaware of the dangers posed by dog waste to livestock and are unaware of a parasite that can be carried by dogs,” he said.
“Dogs are unaffected by this parasite, so the owner will not know their dog is a carrier, but the parasite is the largest cause of miscarriage and stillbirth in cattle in the UK.
“Additionally, once infected, the livestock cannot be cured and this sadly results in the livestock usually being destroyed.”
Dog poo can also harm other dogs and humans, in some cases leading to toxocariasis and symptoms such as sight issues, dizziness, nausea, asthma, pneumonia, and seizures.
The councils have now warned dog owners about enforcement patrols taking place at countryside ‘dog poo hotspots’.
“Our officers will patrol locations where there have been reports of dog fouling and issue fines to irresponsible dog walkers caught leaving the waste to damage beauty spots,” said a spokesperson.
Fines of up to £75 can be given to anyone found dropping dog poo bags with fines of £100 issued to owners who fail to pick up after their dogs.
Ignoring fines could lead to a larger fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record.
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