Your dog mess is killing our calves: farm’s plea to dog owners

11:00am Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Jim Durkin

DAMAGING LOSS: Clare Lees of Post Green Farm in Lytchett Minster with some of her cattle DAMAGING LOSS: Clare Lees of Post Green Farm in Lytchett Minster with some of her cattle

A farm has urged pet owners to act responsibly after losing two of its unborn calves to a parasite spread through canine faeces.

Clare Lees, of Post Green Farm, Lytchett Minster, told the Daily Echo the unborn Longhorn calves miscarried after contracting Neospora caninum, which has also been reported in two pedigree cattle at Kingston Lacy.

Neospora can spread to cattle through eggs in dog faeces. While the meat is still perfectly safe to eat, the parasite causes miscarriages and infertility in the herd.

Mrs Lees is eager for dog owners to clean up after their pets when walking them in the vicinity of her farm.

“We’ve always accepted the fact that when you live between Lytchett Minister and Lytchett Matravers people are going to come and walk their dogs,” she said.

“We rather tend to turn a bit of a blind eye and let it happen.

“We’re not the sort of people who like going around the place shouting: ‘Get off our land’ but we’ve just had two calves die of this illness which is in all probability carried by dogs.

“We just want people to be responsible and realise there is a risk if they don’t pick up after their dogs.”

Mrs Lees believes the cattle became infected as they grazed at Race Farm Common, off Huntick Road, Lytchett Matravers. She added: “What we are saying is please be responsible and remember there is a cost to cattle and the farmer.”

The Lees have 250 Longhorn and Angus beef cattle.

Meanwhile, two of Kingston Lacy’s 52 Red Devon Cattle also tested positive for Neospora.

National Trust head ranger Peter Sampson said: “Our dog bins do already get well used but it only needs one or two owners to not pick up after their pets to put decades of work in caring for this herd at risk.”

Comments(28)

FriendsofKC says...
12:06pm Mon 18 Mar 13

A problem that must be addressed everywhere!

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Bournesouthmouth Downpokes says...
1:29pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Dog mess all over Bournemouth is an utter disgusting epidemic. Dog owners have absolutely NO respect for their fellow human beings in their communities. I know this is about cattle (whose milk you drink from and meat you eat), but children walk the streets treading on this vermin. And it can cause blindness. Sick to the edge of all the sh!t around. Even outside primary schools!

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onlymemoaning says...
1:37pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Yes it is a problem everywhere and unfortunately does seem to be overlooked.
Irresponsible dog owners need to realise that their laziness can, and has caused an affect on others.
Its not a lot to ask to clean up after your dog is it?

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Skyrah says...
1:59pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I despair at some dog owners! This is why areas where dogs can be exersised off the lead are disappearing daily! I was recently ridiculed by a fellow dog owner for scooping our poop at Hengisbury Head on the basis that poo on the grass is ok as people should stick to pathways!

With that sort of attitude it's no wonder so many people hate dogs and their owners. A monthly dose of Advocate kills the parasites that cause all the problems and is only £8 - if you can't afford £2 per week to protect your dog and other people's health, don't have a dog in the first place please.

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animal ok says...
2:43pm Mon 18 Mar 13

To Bournesouthmouth Downpokes, I think you shouldn't put all dog owners into the same category. Some of us are responsible enough to pick up after our dogs & would probably happily join in the battle for the rest of the dog owning community to follow suit.

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allmy life says...
4:21pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Foxes,cats,badgers,r
abbits,horses,sheep
ect ect to all you dog haters.

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FriendsofKC says...
5:07pm Mon 18 Mar 13

allmy life wrote:
Foxes,cats,badgers,r

abbits,horses,sheep
ect ect to all you dog haters.
What a stupid comment!

Cats are a problem as they usually use other peoples gardens but to class wild animals in the same category as dogs is crazy!
Horses, sheep, cattle etc etc only recycle grass etc which does little harm.
If you walk in the country you would expect to see this!
By the way, badgers are very clean and use a special place for their toilet!
I have a dog and resent you saying I hate them!
Bet you don't clean up after yours do you?

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saynomore says...
5:26pm Mon 18 Mar 13

allmy life wrote:
Foxes,cats,badgers,r

abbits,horses,sheep
ect ect to all you dog haters.
It is the moronic lazy owners that people hate not the dogs.

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Bob49 says...
5:38pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Or the halfwits who, after collecting thir dogs mess in a bag. then hang it in a tree.

What is that about ?

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Bournesouthmouth Downpokes says...
7:13pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Even after picking up dog mess from public places there is still faeces residue left. How does that fare for those children playing or families having picnics in the park. Dogs should have designated dog parks and not be allowed in public recreational areas.

Just recently there was a national news story of a woman who lost her eye 30 years after coming into contact with the sheet as a child.

Anyone who defends the sick state of our local (minefield) pavements need to have some of this mess on their doorstep, see how they feel then.

At times when out and about, on misty/drizzly days the stench in the air is foul!

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RivermeadMike says...
7:15pm Mon 18 Mar 13

It's not only dogs' mess that is a problem. Loose dogs worrying sheep and cattle are also a menace and should be shot and their owners prosecuted.

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joetheman says...
7:23pm Mon 18 Mar 13

allmy life wrote:
Foxes,cats,badgers,r

abbits,horses,sheep
ect ect to all you dog haters.
user name should be allmy sad life

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goatty says...
10:10pm Mon 18 Mar 13

RivermeadMike wrote:
It's not only dogs' mess that is a problem. Loose dogs worrying sheep and cattle are also a menace and should be shot and their owners prosecuted.
What loose dogs? You have witnessed this have you? Where is your evidence.
You are just another dog hater who makes stupid, uniformed unfounded statements.
I walk my dog through farmers fields and keep him on a lead if cattle are near. I spoke to the farmer about dogs and sheep etc, and as he said, there will always be an odd occasion somewhere but in 50 years of farming he has never had one incident of dogs attacking his herds or flocks.
I think his point of view is more representative than yours.

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goatty says...
10:15pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Bournesouthmouth Downpokes wrote:
Even after picking up dog mess from public places there is still faeces residue left. How does that fare for those children playing or families having picnics in the park. Dogs should have designated dog parks and not be allowed in public recreational areas.

Just recently there was a national news story of a woman who lost her eye 30 years after coming into contact with the sheet as a child.

Anyone who defends the sick state of our local (minefield) pavements need to have some of this mess on their doorstep, see how they feel then.

At times when out and about, on misty/drizzly days the stench in the air is foul!
What about all the garbage that is left behind after these so called picnics. Rubbish everywhere and empty bottle just left.
What about dirty nappies stinking the bins out on misty/drizzly days?
Surely children have designated play parks that dogs are banned from?
I would suspect you are one of lifes little do gooders who like children to be allowed to do anything and go anywhere no matter how much upset they cause other members of society. Not everyone in life wants to hear screaming children in the park, in Costa Coffee or in wine bars or restaurants.

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loadabull says...
10:22pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I think what 'allmy life' was trying to point out is, that wildlife may also carry the parasites. With the use of the word 'probability' it does not mean 'definitely' , but 'likely'. I appreciate that testing fox poo for this is costly, but as some fox' carry conditions that affect dogs (and other species) there is also probability that foxes carry it also.
Owners' should ALWAYS pick up after their dogs, just as people should take their litter home. Both can cause serious injury to animals if not disposed of properly.
And yes, it is a shame that they have lost calves at both sites. This winter has been hard enough for the animals and farmers alike.

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themummy says...
11:29pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Almost everyday someone lets their dog mess outside Pokesdown Primary School. He/she even let the dog poop right by the door, where the kids walk in. If you live in this road maybe you would kindly report them. In fact maybe we can all do the same wherever it is. Lets all act for a cleaner town please!

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Bournemouth2014 says...
11:52pm Mon 18 Mar 13

RivermeadMike wrote:
It's not only dogs' mess that is a problem. Loose dogs worrying sheep and cattle are also a menace and should be shot and their owners prosecuted.
You are an idiot. Narrow minded person. A dog does what a dog does its the owners that need to sort it out. What a T**T you are.

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wildchildthe!st says...
5:55am Tue 19 Mar 13

themummy wrote:
Almost everyday someone lets their dog mess outside Pokesdown Primary School. He/she even let the dog poop right by the door, where the kids walk in. If you live in this road maybe you would kindly report them. In fact maybe we can all do the same wherever it is. Lets all act for a cleaner town please!
A typical irresponsible comment,why dont YOU report them?

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Bournesouthmouth Downpokes says...
7:25am Tue 19 Mar 13

wildchildthe!st wrote:
themummy wrote:
Almost everyday someone lets their dog mess outside Pokesdown Primary School. He/she even let the dog poop right by the door, where the kids walk in. If you live in this road maybe you would kindly report them. In fact maybe we can all do the same wherever it is. Lets all act for a cleaner town please!
A typical irresponsible comment,why dont YOU report them?
You ignorant fool. I know exactly what themummy is talking about and there are waldens involved, but they havent done one iota about it and the council has been informed. This dog sh!t outside the primary school apparently happens much earlier than when the parents drop their children off.

Wildchildwhateveryou
chose to call yourself. You should not be so quick to judge! Go watch some comedy or summin, as by the sound of if you are a misery guts.

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wildchildthe!st says...
8:03am Tue 19 Mar 13

Thanks for the kind words but unless people stop waiting for others to do something about these type of issues then nothing will be done and the only ones to blame are themselves.Instead of using expletives on a public site that is viewed by minors direct your obvious misguided aggression towards something positive

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retry69 says...
8:29am Tue 19 Mar 13

Bournesouthmouth Downpokes wrote:
wildchildthe!st wrote:
themummy wrote:
Almost everyday someone lets their dog mess outside Pokesdown Primary School. He/she even let the dog poop right by the door, where the kids walk in. If you live in this road maybe you would kindly report them. In fact maybe we can all do the same wherever it is. Lets all act for a cleaner town please!
A typical irresponsible comment,why dont YOU report them?
You ignorant fool. I know exactly what themummy is talking about and there are waldens involved, but they havent done one iota about it and the council has been informed. This dog sh!t outside the primary school apparently happens much earlier than when the parents drop their children off.

Wildchildwhateveryou

chose to call yourself. You should not be so quick to judge! Go watch some comedy or summin, as by the sound of if you are a misery guts.
As stated in the article "we rather tend to turn a bit of a blind eye and let it happen" isnt that what you are doing?

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sar72 says...
9:21am Tue 19 Mar 13

Strange how you don't hear of this all over the country from other farmers! Also near wareham forest dog walkers on cattle grazing land are told to leave it and not pick after their dogs by the farmers. How does this farmer know its dog poo and not fox? I'd like to read the evidence and research in to that its dogs? Or are they just assuming like some of the readers on here...that think every single dog owner doesn't pick up after their dog?

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Bournesouthmouth Downpokes says...
10:31am Tue 19 Mar 13

themummy. A friend of mine whose child goes to said school informed me that the correct procedure is to call the police on 101 and hopefully they can post a few leaflets to the residents across the road and ask them to keep a look out for those allowing their dogs to poo all up and the down the entrance to the school for the safety of the children.

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Chris the plumber says...
12:25pm Tue 19 Mar 13

after visiting the vet with my 6 week old puppy for his injections i inquired as to why they are nessesary ? I was told it was not to protect the puppy but to protect us and other animals from the puppy. so i am assuming cows can now eat my dogs poo with some immunity ??

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Chris the plumber says...
12:25pm Tue 19 Mar 13

after visiting the vet with my 6 week old puppy for his injections i inquired as to why they are nessesary ? I was told it was not to protect the puppy but to protect us and other animals from the puppy. so i am assuming cows can now eat my dogs poo with some immunity ??

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oversixty says...
12:37pm Tue 19 Mar 13

awsokend wrote:
My cousins poodle isn't house trained, she's ready to rip all her hair out and give him away. His poop is as runny as water, almost like diarrhea, but it's not on impulse, and it's also slightly firm.

He's eating cat food because he's a fussy eater and will just stop eating, and starve himself. we have been thinking about just trying to mix the cat food into his dog food so maybe he'll eat it.. My cousin can't just cut it out completely because
..1) she has 4 cats, and
2) he'll starve to death.

So, are there any ways, besides generally just changing his diet? Is there any sort of ingredient she can put in his food to make his poo harder? It's getting on her nerves because it's so disgusting and as I'm the cleaner I hate having to change the bed covers and curtains nearly every day , and shampoo the carpet OVER AND OVER..
Take it to a vet!!
If you are feeding a dog cat food what do you expect!
Please let a responsible owner have the dog!

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oversixty says...
12:39pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Chris the plumber wrote:
after visiting the vet with my 6 week old puppy for his injections i inquired as to why they are nessesary ? I was told it was not to protect the puppy but to protect us and other animals from the puppy. so i am assuming cows can now eat my dogs poo with some immunity ??
Parvovirus-
See
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Canine_parv
ovirus

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s-pb2 says...
11:46pm Tue 19 Mar 13

The problem of dogs mess has appeared to be getting out of hand the last couple of months. Even when you challenge the owners you just get a mouthful of abuse back. They just dont care!

And when you call the council, they just ask for more details, like who the offender is and where they live. In most cases how are we supposed to know that.

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