Warning as cows fall ill after eating uncollected dog poo

Dorchester Police are asking members of the public to make sure they clean up after their dogs after speaking to a farmer who has sick cows due to the uncollected dog poop.

Leaving dog waste without cleaning it up can be harmful to the environment and others. 

Canine faeces can contain parasites that, if not cleaned up, can spread to grass.  If this grass is eaten it can cause pregnant cattle to lose their young, as well as blindness in humans.

A spokesperson for Dorchester Police said: "Whilst on patrol in some of my rural villages today I was told of a farmer who had some poorly cattle due to ingesting dog poo.

"This had not been picked up by its owner and was in the grass the cattle were eating.

"Dog poo can be seriously harmful to livestock due to toxins and parasites which can ultimately lead to the animal having to be put to sleep.

"This is not only distressing to the animal and farmer, it is also costly.

"Dog poo can also be very dangerous to humans, especially children, so please be a responsible dog owner, keep your dog in sight at all times and pick up after it has done a poo."

Signs about having dogs around farm animals (Image: Dorchester Police)