Footballers as young as eight years old are having their eyesight put at risk by dog owners who do not clean up after their pets. The Barbican sports field in Looe, which is home to 13 football teams, has had dogs fouling on the pitch without their owners being cautioned. 'Last month we found seven piles before a game,' said Looe under 15s manager Paul Manning. 'It is disgusting and this is not just around the edges, this is right in the middle.' The sports field is mostly used for football and has up to three matches on a Saturday and teams training every evening. However, they are always having to clear up dog faeces before they can play. More piles were found on the junior pitch last week where children as young as eight play. If they came into contact with the dog faeces, then they could be blinded. That is what happened to an 11-year-old girl from Exeter this year. Connie Young, of Heavitree, has limited vision in one of her eyes after contracting Uveitis. This was caused by a disease called toxocara, which is contained in the faeces of unwormed dogs. It is estimated around eight people a year are blinded in this way. Councillor Wally Scarah admitted something had to be done. 'There are up to 70 per cent of people who do not pick up after their dogs. It is everywhere in Looe and it is about time they got fined heavily.' Caradon council can issue on-the-spot fines of £50 for anyone not seen picking up litter or, alternatively, can take people to court under the 1996 Dog Fouling Act where the penalty can be anywhere up to a £1,000. However, Mr Manning admits it is hard to catch people. 'You can spot them but it is hearsay and you need witnesses,' he said. 'A lot of them come up at night as well and just let their dogs run riot. There are signs but no-one pays any attention to them. 'I think the whole area should be fenced off.' Richard Isbell, deputy head of operations for Caradon, promised that dog warden patrols would be increased in the Barbican area but, unfortunately, it was impracticable and too costly to have the area fenced off, he said.
