THE Friends of Apex Park are launching a campaign to raise awareness of how important it is to pick up after dogs and to encourage irresponsible dog owners to pick up as well as highlighting the harm it can cause to humans.  

The group will be walking around Apex Park with one of Sedgemoor’s Dog Wardens on Wednesday, March 6 and will be spraying stencils on pathways to remind to dog owners to pick up or face a fine.

Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) says it has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhoea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans.

It can also cause blindness, Toxocariasis is an illness found in humans that occurs when they are infected with parasitic roundworms, originating from the fecal matter of dogs. E.Coli is another and for those with weakened immune systems, the infection can result in death.

Sedgemoor’s dog wardens regularly patrol Apex Park, along with other dog poo ‘hot spots’ and can issue a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice if they see owners not picking up after their pets.

A spokesman for SDC, said: "Not only is dog fouling a recognised form of anti-social behaviour, but it can also get you a sizeable fine from the council.  

"A Fixed Penalty Notices is £100 (reduced to £75 if paid within 10 days).

"Due to the nature of modern diets for dogs, dog poop is very high in harmful bacteria.

"Simply bagging and binning dog poo makes a real difference.

"It keeps our parks, streets and coastal environment clean, safeguards the health of beach and water users and protects our bathing water.

"Dog poo can be binned in both Poo Bins as well as general waste bins.  There are 240 dog bins across Sedgemoor.  All get emptied at least twice a week; the ones in popular spots such as Burnham on Sea, parks get emptied on a daily basis."